Stake Out... (Studs & Steel Book 5) by Heather Mar-Gerrison (1)

 

Stake-Out...

Studs & Steel #5

Heather Mar-Gerrison

 

Heather Mar-Gerrison

Copyright 2017

 

Beautiful front cover design courtesy of

Selfpubbookcovers/petal65

 

 

 

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronically or mechanically, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the author, except where permitted by law. This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters to actual persons, living or dead is purely coincidental. The Author holds exclusive rights to this work.

 

 

 

 

 

Prologue

 

Hendrix

 

It had been an agonising couple of years since his brother had lost his life at the hands of Peyton McKenzie’s bodyguard. There hadn’t really been a whole lot of love lost between then, but Callum had at least offered a barrier of sorts between the McCarthys and their cousins, the Roblinskis. Of course that had all dissolved when Callum died, following a night of getting high on crystal meth and ending up being shot between the eyes by his arch-enemy’s boyfriend, leaving Hendrix vulnerable and alone and now he’d finally had enough.

He’d had enough of trying to survive in a world that just refused to give him a break, he’d had enough of the abuse he’d been forced to suffer just to make ends meet and having all of his money stolen from his secret hiding place just days before he was going to buy his ticket out of there was just the last straw. He was tired. He was broken and he couldn’t go on anymore.

He was going to miss Mason – and he felt bad when he thought about leaving him behind to fend for himself – he told himself that Mason was tougher than he was. Always had been. Only that wasn’t really true – he’d looked after Mason every bit as well as Mason had looked after him – probably better because he was street-wise and Mason was, well, Mason...

“I can’t do this anymore Mason.” He mumbled as he sat up and started to pull his clothes back on. He’d done it again – allowed himself the luxury of being loved and cared for. He couldn’t keep doing this to Mason; he didn’t deserve to be dragged into his dark and dangerous world. Hendrix didn’t know if he was clean. His way of making money was distasteful even to himself – even though he was used to it now. Hell, he even had regulars...

“But I want to look after you, Hendrix.” He said earnestly. “I’ll be leaving college soon. I’ll take on some hours with my uncle at the garage and we’ll find our own place...”

He shook his head, “I’ll never be free of Lenny and you know it – the guy owns me.” Lenny was his pimp. The bastard. He took more of his money than he let him keep.

Mason shook his head, “He doesn’t own you,” he said firmly, “we’ll leave here – I’ve got savings – and you’ve got your stash. Mum’ll understand. Uncle Joe said he’d lend us whatever we need – and he said he’d help Mum out with the farm too. It’s all going to turn out okay – you’ll see. As long as I’m with you I can live anywhere – you know that.”

Hendrix’s heart squeezed painfully in his chest. Mason was adorable and he loved his optimism. He was a bright kid; he should follow his dream and go to uni, not give it all up for a no-hoper rent-boy like him... He shook his head, “I do know that – but everything won’t be okay, Mase. He’s never going to let me live my life – and they’ll only go after Joe if he helps us out – and then they’ll ultimately find us – and I refuse to have you hurt because of me.” They’d just throw the net out even further – hurting more and more people until Lenny found him again. He’d kill Mason without a second thought. Lenny was all about destroying lives. Their secret affair had to end... Now.

Mason scrambled to a sitting position and grabbed Hendrix’s wrist. “Don’t go doing anything stupid, baby.” He murmured. “We’ll figure something out.”

Hendrix smiled at him; their love was magical and real and had been from the moment they’d met in the nightclub, Studs and Steel, a few months ago. Mason had somehow managed to break down Hendrix’s carefully constructed wall around his heart and they’d fallen in love. Something Hendrix had never meant to happen. He was busy making his money to run away. Mason had never been part of his plan. He stroked Mason’s face and gazed at him, trying to memorise every freckle across his cute little nose. “Always know that I really loved you. I really did.”

Mason frowned, “Loved?” he asked, his voice rising a little with panic, “Past tense? What are you planning?”

Hendrix shrugged, trying to pretend that it wasn’t killing him to leave his lover behind. “I’ve got to get away from here – without you being involved. I’ll call you when I’m safe.”

Mason flopped back against his pillows, defeated. “You don’t have to do this alone, babe.” He said softly, “I love you and I want to help you.”

Hendrix shook his head, “I know you do. But you can’t help me this time,” he said, “No one can.”

 

*

 

Hendrix knew what to do. Sitting on his bedroom floor he took a deep calming breath and held the knife against his wrist. After agonising over his decision for the last few weeks, he now felt able to carry out his plan.

It was a bit awkward being left-handed and having to perform this ‘final’ act with his other hand but he felt it was necessary.

He gasped as he cut deeper than he intended. God, that burns. He watched in fascinated horror as he started to bleed out onto his jeans and then on to the laminated wood floor. At least it wouldn’t be a bitch to clean up...

He looked up as he heard a noise. “You fucking little idiot.” The guy’s voice hissed through his foggy brain. He’d started losing too much blood to actually be able to get up and move. That hadn’t been the plan... He’d only meant to leave a trail of blood to make it to look as if he’d been murdered...

“No.” he murmured, “Don’t...” Suddenly dying seemed to be a pretty good back-up plan. It was certainly better than being rescued by him.

The man swore and then he felt his wrist being wrapped up tightly. That hurt even more than cutting it had... Fuck it all to hell. This wasn’t he way it was supposed to go down at all.

“Stupid little fucker.” The familiar voice was angry but relatively calm. “Come on. You’re not fucking dying on me. Not today anyway...”

 

 

Chapter 1 – Harley’s meeting place...

 

Denny

 

“What do you mean we’ve got to swing by Studs and Steel nightclub?” Blaine jogged after me as I strode towards the exit of the police headquarters we worked at and looked at me in horror, “It’s a gay joint, dude.” His steps faltered the closer we got to the door.

I slowed my pace and turned to him, smiling blandly. I nodded, “Yes,” I said as patiently as I could muster at my best friend and working partner’s obvious distaste, “but it’s also where Harley’s asked us to meet him. He’s waiting for us with the details of the case we’re being entrusted with – this is a big deal, Blaine – a big fucking deal.”

He sighed and nodded, “Yeah, yeah.” He mumbled, “But I don’t want some fucking creepy queer thinking he can feel me up just because I’m in there.”

Creepy queer? What the fuck? Was that really what he thought? Surely not.... I looked at him as if he’d just grown a new head, “Dude, will you listen to yourself?” I asked in annoyance, “You’re really not all that – and what the hell makes you think they’re gonna give you a second glance anyway?” Actually he really was all that. He was absolutely fucking gorgeous and I’d been in love with him for more than half of my life, but he had absolutely no idea about that and I wasn’t about to tell him. It would make things far too awkward between us if he knew the truth – and I wasn’t about to out myself when he was convinced that I was as straight as he was. Because sadly for me, Blaine was as straight as straight got.

He looked at me with a slightly hurt expression, “Fuck off.” He said, “I’m every gay guy’s wet dream.”

I snorted. What the fuck? That really wasn’t the sort of conversation I wanted to get started on, because, yes – he was the cause of countless wet dreams of mine over the years. I’d loved him as a friend for far longer than I’d been in love with him. I’d been a slight, shy kid of eleven when we met in our first year of senior school. I’d got a few friends at the junior school and I was always pretty happy with them – and yet somehow, big, beautiful, brash Blaine had decided he wanted to be my best friend and had set out to do just that – we’d become inseparable within a few weeks of starting school – and now, thirteen years later, we still were – and I was still completely and utterly in love with him but sadly, he was always in love with someone else. Girls. No competition...

It was getting more and more difficult to hide my real feelings for him. Hell, I was still hiding my true sexuality from him – and with bloody good reason when he reacted like this just to be meeting Harley at Studs.

“Seriously, dude – I’m damned sure you’re not.” I said as I pushed the double doors open and Blaine followed me out. I wasn’t wrong, though. Most gay guys would look at Blaine and sure, they’d admire him – but they’d also recognise a lost cause when they saw it. He oozed straightness. I was such a fucking idiot for falling in love with him. Unrequited love was such a ball ache... quite literally.

Harley, however, had never shown the slightest bit of interest in him, “Just stay with me and don’t speak to anyone. I don’t want you inadvertently offending anyone with your loose tongue.”

He grinned, “They’d all love to have a piece of my tongue.” He said, licking his lips salaciously. I had to laugh. He might have been making my dick start to wake up but I’d gotten practiced at schooling my reactions to him.

“You’re a dick.’ I said, punching his arm, “Come on.” I pulled him towards the police patrol car, “Just stick close to me and everyone will assume we’re together.” I winked and chuckled as his smile slid off his face and he scowled at me.

“Fuck. Right. Off.” He said.

I couldn’t help it. I burst out laughing. He looked so indignant about it. Part of me (the part of me that hoped against hope I was, by some miracle, correct) wondered if he sometimes protested just a little too much. I really couldn’t understand why he was so uptight about it. Seriously. There really wasn’t anything wrong with being gay. Although I still hadn’t come out to my best friend of the last thirteen years so maybe, deep down, I thought there was something wrong with it too... Still, I wasn’t about to start psychoanalysing myself – I had my unbearably over-protective parents for that – which was probably the reason I’d been such a wimp when Blaine took me under his wing and started to teach me how to become more of a man...

As we drew up to the large square building, it was obvious something was wrong. There were so many people gathered in the car park.

“What the...?” I opened the car door. “Hey!” I shouted to some guy with short hair and muscles on muscles. He was dressed all in black – tight black jeans and a tee shirt that showed his sculpted body off perfectly. He was likely just as gay as everyone else hanging around the car park – just not as obvious about it, which was totally the aura I wanted to give off, but wasn’t all that sure I actually pulled off with any conviction, “What’s going on?”

He sauntered over to the car, “Bomb scare, dude.” He said, rolling his eyes in exasperation, “It’s been the third one in the last month.”

I frowned. I hadn’t been privy to that information before now, “Have you reported it to the police?” There weren’t any other patrol cars here and I couldn’t hear any sirens alerting us to their imminent arrival.

He rolled his eyes again and shrugged his massive shoulders, “We’ve got the owner’s boyfriend and another of his colleagues checking the place out – I reckon you’ll probably know them both – Harley Fitzgerald and Kody Elden?”

I nodded. I knew Harley far better than I knew Kody. Kody was kind of scary. He was one of the senior detectives on the force – totally above us rookies – we didn’t get to rub shoulders with that lot very often. Harley was more senior than me but he was a cool guy and I really got on well with his younger brother, Joel.

“Maybe it’s time to involve us,” I suggested, “If it’s becoming a nuisance – we could keep an eye on the place for you.”

The big guy grinned, “A stake-out, huh?” he asked.

I chuckled, “Something like that, yeah.” The fact that my brief from Harley sounded like it involved something similar to a stake-out in the middle of nowhere was actually pretty amusing. Although the idea of being stuck in the middle of nowhere for weeks on end with limited internet access and even less of a phone signal – something that was obviously benefitting the criminal for whatever reason – was actually kind of scary. The novelty of being stuck there, alone with Blaine aside, we were nineties-born dudes – we’d practically been born with a mobile phone in our hand... How the hell were we supposed to be able to survive without our technology?

Blaine didn’t even know about that part of it yet either... he was still happily ignorant about the whole thing and the longer he stayed that way the better for everyone – he was a little on the volatile side if things weren’t going his way. Something that was incredibly sexy, but also a little bit scary sometimes.

I glanced across at him. He was eyeing the crowd with a little frown on his face. He’d obviously never seen so many gay guys in one place before. Well, time to get over it, dude. We were gonna be seeing a whole lot more of them if we got this job...

I grabbed his elbow and steered him towards the building. “Harley?” I shouted through the entrance door, “You in there?”

He and Kody Elden appeared, “We’ve checked everywhere – there’s no sign of any disruption – it’s just some loser trying to put the wind up everyone. Probably someone who doesn’t like gay people.”

I frowned. I hated that I wasn’t out sometimes. It made me think I was just adding to the problem, “Hate crime?”

He shrugged, “I guess...” He shot a glance towards Kody who shrugged his shoulders. “It still happens – more than you’d ever imagine.”

Harley turned back to me, “We think it’s more than that – and I’m so sorry – I had no idea we were going to have this disruption when I invited you to join me here to discuss the job I wanted you and Blaine to do.” He sighed, “I actually thought it would be the most suitable place.” He rolled his eyes, “Anyway – now that we’re sure the caller was a hoax, let’s go inside and we can talk...”

 

 

Chapter 2 – Your mission, if you choose it...

 

Denny

 

If I didn’t think he was offending pretty much all of the clientele of the nightclub, I would have found it quite amusing that Blaine was walking behind me so closely. Honest to God, he could have been my sewn-on shadow with how close he was behind me – and damn, it was such a turn-on. Wrong, I know...

I turned to him and gave him a look, “Knock it off, Blaine,” I hissed, “I’ve told you before – they’ve all got gaydar in this place. They can smell a straight homophobe a mile off – so just fucking chill, will you?”

“Sorry,” he mumbled, looking utterly mortified that I thought he was in any way disgusted with the guys being gay and enjoying their life, “And I’m not a homophobe. I’m just a bit...”

“Prejudiced?” I asked flatly. Seriously. There was no way I could ever let him know the truth.

He shook his head, “I just feel a little... threatened.”

I blinked. Threatened? Blaine? What the fuck? “And what are they threatening?” I asked, “Most of them are cute little twinks – and the bears just want to protect them. Believe me, mate – no one is interested in you.” Except me. I’m hopelessly in love with you and always will be...

He looked at me with his mouth slightly open, “Alright,” he blustered after a beat, “You don’t have to keep harping on about how fucking unattractive I am.” He was really quite put out, which actually surprised me.

“What difference does it make?” I asked incredulously, “What do you want them to find him attractive for?” I was aware that my jealousy of him finding someone to take my place in his heart was starting to get the better of me. Rein it in, Ellis...

He looked so put out that I found it hard to suppress a reluctant grin, “You’ve said it enough times today, jeez...”

I patted his shoulder. Always a mistake since shockwaves of desire always managed to shoot straight to my dick, no matter where I touched him, “Hey, man – chill out. All the girls still think you’re fucking awesome, so what the hell does it matter if that lot do or not, huh?”

He relaxed then, flashing me a grin that was enough to have me grabbing him and kissing him all over, “Yeah...” he agreed, “I guess you’re right – thanks man...”

“You’re welcome,” I muttered. God, it was hell sometimes being in love with your best friend...

Harley pulled the chair out from behind the desk in the office that I assumed was Rob’s.

Blaine and I both took a chair opposite him.

He smiled, “Right, now that I have my two best officers full attention, I want to talk to you about a bit of an undercover mission.”

My heart started to thump. This was a fabulous opportunity. I glanced sideways to see how Blaine was taking it. He was leaning forward in his seat looking really intense. God, he was stunning.

I tried to focus back on Harley. He was talking about the investigation we were already doing and was asking us to keep an eye on a property in the Peak District that they thought was a key component to the investigation.

“So what do we have to do?” Blaine asked, “Do we have to bug the place and shit?”

Harley nodded, “Well, only if the opportunity arises. We think there are at least two men staying there – but there could be a third that’s being kept out of sight for whatever reason. We believe two of them are the cousins of Callum McCarthy – the guy that was shot by Kody here a couple of years back.”

“What about the third one?” Blaine asked.

Harley shook his head, “According to a witness they bundled in something that looked like a body. If it was a body, which I doubt, they certainly haven’t tried to dispose of it – so either, one, the place is stinking up, two, they have a bloody big freezer in there – or three, it wasn’t a dead body – as I said – and he’s still in there. My guess is that it was someone high on drugs and passed out.” He shrugged, “could be another member of the family or a random hanger-on – you know what they’re like – their whole life revolves around taking, trafficking and selling drugs.”

I nodded, “Right.” I said, “Well, if we can put this lot behind bars, we can all sleep a little more soundly in our beds at night.”

Harley nodded gravely, “Indeed we can.” He agreed, “I’ll give you more information back at the station – I just wanted to talk to you away from Colby and Harrison,” he shot us a rueful grin, “you know how competitive those guys get.”

We grinned at each other and nodded, “Ohhh, yeah.” Blaine said, “We do.”

 

 

Chapter 3 – My best friend, Denny

 

Blaine

 

I’d known Denny for more than half of my life. We’d met at Dawson-Anderson Academy on the very first day of our first year in the school. It’s always horribly nerve-wracking to be put into a new class with kids that you’ve never set eyes on before – but to be starting at a new school where you haven’t even got the back-up of kids you’ve been to school with for years it’s even worse – and I was brand new to the area and therefore a total fish out of water – and I was panicking. I remember looking up and finding myself staring into the most mischievous eyes I’d ever had the pleasure of looking at. He grinned and mouthed ‘hello’ to me. I found myself grinning back and mouthing back ‘hi.’ It was difficult to tear my eyes away from him. There was just something about him that drew my attention completely and I had to know him.

To my delight, we were sat opposite each other at a table along with six other kids that were all cool too, and we pretty much instantly became firm friends.

Denny’s name was actually Ellis Denison but Ellis just didn’t suit him. He suited Denny. “Ellis?”

He nodded, rolling those amazing grey eyes, “Yeah, it’s awful isn’t it?”

I shook my head, “It’s not awful...” Not awful, but not fantastic and it really didn’t suit him, “what’s your surname?”

He grinned, “Denison.”

I grinned back at him. I could shorten that and he’d suit it, I was sure. “Denny it is, then.” I said confidently. His smile was blinding.

...And Denny it had been ever since. Every last one of our mates called him Denny within a couple of weeks of us hanging around together – even those he’d been to school with forever. It was like he’d been completely re-invented.

Denny was such a lot of fun. He was kind of small and skinny for his age. A shock of white-blonde hair accompanied those incredible eyes and he wasn’t shy exactly – but he wasn’t the most outgoing of kids either. That said, he wanted to do everything I could do. We were very competitive with each other even though we were best friends.

“What’s your name?”

I frowned, “Just Blaine.” I said, “I don’t even want to tell you what my real name is.”

He frowned, “Well, that’s as maybe – but I’ll know as soon as they read the register.” He pointed out.

Fuck. Of course he would – as would everyone else in the class. I hated my parents sometimes... “It’s Arthur.” I whispered, “I hate it. Please call me Blaine.”

He nodded, looking as though he completely understood my pain. “Blaine.” He repeated solemnly, “Got it.”

And, bless him, he’d never once called me Arthur in thirteen years...

Where Denny was artistic, I was sporty. Bless him, he was brilliant at football and he tried his best to keep up with me, but rugby was pretty much beyond him, physically. I’d gotten to six feet by the time we were both fifteen. He’d just about managed five feet, ten... He was in great shape though. He had abs to die for and a fabulously muscular frame for his slim build – he could handle himself just fine on the football pitch but rugby was a much more physical game and he hated being thrown around and battered by the bigger guys and I wasn’t always available to rescue him.

I thought he looked amazing. He hated the way he looked and always said he’d rather look like me.

I couldn’t see what was so great until he pointed out that I’d had seven girlfriends and he’d not had one. I guess I could see his point... I had no idea why he never attracted the girls. They always seemed pretty damned interested to me. Maybe he just gave out the wrong vibe...

Now I came to think about it, he never really ever had a girlfriend now, either... I looked across at him. He was watching the dancers quite intently. It suddenly occurred to me with a massive jolt why he never had a girlfriend... He’d lied all these years about his sexuality. Oh, my God. He wasn’t interested in girls and he never had been... Holy shit. How the hell had I managed to not realise in all these years...?

 

*

 

I was kind of excited to be involved in this latest operation. It sure beat some of the shit we’d been dealing with lately, although Denny reckoned it was all related. I wasn’t sure – I wasn’t all that intuitive if I’m honest – I was more the brawn to his brains...

We’d been involved in the investigation surrounding Studs and Steel for a while – it kind of started even before the club opened.

Let me clarify. We’d been involved in Peyton McKenzie’s hit and run almost as soon as we’d been taken on. We’d been PC’s at the time and on the beat together. We’d been first on the scene, which had been terrifying and exciting in pretty much equal measures. It had been documented well enough, but then, with a lack of any evidence of the car that had hit him and then miraculously disappearing, the trail had gone cold and the case had been shelved. It had been pretty much forgotten about until he was shot at point blank range. That had shaken up the under-cover team and we’d been put onto the team investigating his past. Again, we hadn’t really gotten very far with the investigations when he’d been targeted again. Thankfully, Peyton’s bodyguard had seen to it that Callum McCarthy, who was the main suspect, but wasn’t actually the only one, was never going to have another go. I wasn’t the only one that was a little concerned that it might actually not be over, so I was well up for an operation to keep an eye on a suspicious splinter group of guys that our department seemed to think had been involved with him at some time or another.

Denny told me we’d been picked for the operation, following the way we’d helped out with Alfie Hanson’s rescue from his abusive lover. That had been well stressful, not least for the fact that the guy who’d been seeing Alfie (Alfie was now Harley’s boyfriend) had actually been grooming him to send him abroad in some sort of prostitution ring.

Harley had been beside himself. I knew he was close to the guy but I’d had no idea about the depth of his feelings for him. I guess it was kind of cute that they were now a couple – weird, but cute all the same.

People were always mistaking me and Denny for a couple. They assumed we were boyfriends. It always made me laugh, although Denny was always apologising for looking too girly and giving people the wrong impression about us – something I thought was utterly ridiculous. He wasn’t girly. He was perfect.

“Pay them no attention,” I said, “You’re fucking ripped, man – they just wish they had a body like yours.”

He always blushed like a tomato when I paid him compliments. I’d always put it down to the fact that his dad was always giving him a hard time about being a faggot. I’d never taken his banter seriously before. I’d just put it down to his dad being the type that found it hard to pay his son a compliment. And to be fair his dad was well fucking weird. He was really chuffed when Denny got into the police force but for some bizarre reason, he was really pissed off when he got partnered with me. I’d have thought he’d have been pleased that I was there to protect him. I’d always been there to protect him. He was my best friend. Of course I’d protect him...

Denny told me that his dad had gone off on one about it when we’d gone out for drinks after work with a load of the other guys and he always got a bit loose-tongued when he’d had a drink or two. “Dad’s pissed off that we’re partners.” He said, going bright red.

I’d been delighted that we’d been chosen as partners because it meant that we could still be together all of the time. Denny was my best friend. I couldn’t imagine my life without him in it. “Why?” I asked in surprise – and not a little indignation.

He shrugged, “Reckons we’re too close.”

I snorted, “Fuck off.”

He smiled, “I know.” He said, “He’s fucking stupid. I’ve told you before – I never listen to him.”

I smiled, “Good for you.”

“And he hates it that you still call me Denny even after all these years. Says that it’s childish to still use my nickname from when we were kids...”

I frowned. It wasn’t childish, he’d always be Denny to me... “But you’ll always be Denny.” I said.

He nodded, smiling that beautiful smile at me, “I know,” He said softly, “It’s all because you came up with the nickname. I never want to be called anything else.”

I felt a pang of something in my chest. Pride that he wanted to keep the name I’d come up with? Or was it jealousy that other people called him Denny when it was our special name between the two of us? Jesus. I really had to stop thinking things like that. He wasn’t mine. I didn’t have any claims on him – we were just partners at work...

I squashed the feeling back down. I didn’t feel more for him than just mates. Of course I didn’t. We were just really close friends. I loved him like a brother... Only no, not really...

I smiled as I remember him wanting to come up with one for me too. It hadn’t really worked out. “I could call you Arty.” He said.

I looked at him as if he was completely mad, “Arty?” I asked, “Where the fuck did you get that from?”

He laughed, “It’s short for Arthur.” He said, “But you’re really artistic too – so I thought it kind of fitted.”

I shook my head, “I think we’ll stick with Blaine, don’t you?”

Still laughing he nodded, “Yeah, you could be onto something.”

I looked at him now as he sipped his pint of cider. He’d always been pretty for a boy – but now, well, pretty didn’t really do him justice – he was absolutely beautiful. His blonde hair was still really pale but his eyebrows and lashes had darkened a little since he was a boy, or maybe he dyed them darker, I don’t know – all I know is that the darker lashes made the unusual grey colour of his eyes stand out so much more. I’m not joking – I could stare into those eyes all fucking day.

I realised I was staring when he waved his hand in front of my face, “Earth to, Blainey-baby.” He said with a grin.

I blinked, “Oh! Sorry.” I laughed, feeling my face heating up a little to have been caught day-dreaming, “I totally zoned out there.”

He smiled, “What were you thinking about?” he asked, “Got a new hot woman?”

Was it my imagination or was his smile a little too bright. His laugh a little forced?

I shook my head. Chance would be a fine thing when we spent almost every waking hour together... “Nah,” I said, “I took Catherine out for a drink the other night but it’s not like we’re really serious about each other.” Well, I most certainly wasn’t serious about her in any case. And besides, we were gonna be sent off to the mountains in a remote cabin, away from everyone with no means of contacting them for God knew how long... What was the point in getting it on with her when I had no idea when I’d next see her?

 

 

Chapter 4 – My best friend, Arthur Blaine...

 

Denny

 

It was the best day of my life when Arthur Blaine decided that I was going to be his BFF.

I was pretty insignificant before then. I was just one of the kids at school that played football with all the other boys but never really had one special friend. Oh, I had plenty of mates – and I could get myself into rakes of trouble without even trying. I was probably the one that thought up most of the pranks we used to get up to and I was universally liked by all of my friends – but I craved having one special friend. I wanted a Robin to my Batman if you know what I mean...

By the age of eleven, I really thought I would go through life wondering if I’d ever have that someone special that everyone else seemed to have but then I met Blaine.

Dark hair, soft brown eyes and a full, generous mouth that was clearly used to smiling, I fell instantly in like with him the moment our eyes met across the classroom. It was like magic. I saw him, my heart started to beat wildly in my chest and I couldn’t help it. I smiled at him.

My heart started to gallop when he grinned back at me and I really couldn’t believe my luck when we were put on the same table for the whole year...

What was even more amazing was that he seemed to enjoy being with me just as much as I enjoyed being around him. Within days, we were inseparable, and that was the way it stayed for the next five years.

At fourteen, with our hormones inevitably kicking in, my suspicions that I liked my best friend a little more than I should were confirmed when I couldn’t get him out of my mind and constantly masturbated as I thought about him when I was alone.

I didn’t know what to do about it though. He’d never shown any signs of being interested in me that way – and he never stopped going on about how pretty Molly Anderson was or how big her boobs were.

I had absolutely no interest whatsoever in the size of the girl’s boobs and neither did I want to imagine what her vagina looked or felt like. I was one hundred per cent into guys – and one guy in particular – my guy, Blaine...

But how was I supposed to tell him? Did I come out and confess that I was gay? Or did I try to pretend to be one of the boys and talk about girls in the way they did?

I really didn’t know – and I had no one at home that I could confide in. Mum wasn’t interested. She was always too busy with her clients. She ran a slimming club and it was everything to her. Dad was always at work and when he wasn’t, all he wanted to hear about was how good I was at sports. I was okay at sports – nothing to write home about but Dad had some sort of competitiveness about how much better or worse I was at sports than my best friend, Blaine.

I don’t know what he had against him – maybe he had an inkling that I felt more for him than just being friends.

I’d learned that coming out wasn’t an option a long time before I even realised I was gay. I had no one to turn to...

I was brought back to the present when Blaine’s voice filtered through my reverie, “God, today was really something, wasn’t it?” He flopped back against the bench and slid his arm around the back of me. Not touching me, but resting his arm across the backrest of the seat in what I liked to imagine was a slightly possessive way.

Telling myself sternly that he wasn’t actually putting his arm around me, I nodded, “Yeah.” I agreed. Swallowing hard I turned to him. It was so hard to look at him and not get a boner. He was fucking gorgeous and I’d been in love with him for the best part of the last eight years... “What do you think about our new operation?”

He grinned and shrugged, looking happy, “Well, I can’t think of a better person to be with twenty-four seven in the middle of nowhere, let’s put it that way.” He winked at me. “We can take the PlayStation with us and the Wii and stuff, can’t we? No one’s expecting us to be on surveillance every minute of every day?”

I chuckled, “I imagine that’s exactly what they’re expecting, Blaine – we’re being sent as a pair so we take it in turns.” I felt my face going red as I imagined something else we could be taking in turns at and immediately felt really bad for allowing my thoughts to turn dirty around my best friend.

Blaine just nodded though, “Uh, right – yeah – I guess you’re right.”

I sighed and took another swig of my drink, “You could probably bring your sketch pad.” I mused, “There’s lots of things out in the woods that you can draw.”

He nodded, went a little pink and fiddled with his shoelace. Had I said something wrong? “Hey, you could even draw me.” I said with a laugh.

He blinked and looked at me in surprise, “Would you mind?” he asked.

Mind? Fuck, no! I could totally pose naked... I grinned. Probably best not to mention the posing nude – he might take it the wrong way... “Course I don’t mind.” I said, “I’d be honoured.”

He smiled shyly, “I’ll uh, see then.”

 

 

Blaine

 

All I could think of was the life model that used to pose for my mother’s art class... Actually, that wasn’t true. I was forcing myself to think of her because I wasn’t picturing her at all – I was picturing Denny, deliciously naked and hard for me – and I was getting very hard, not to mention kind of breathless, at the thought.

I forced myself to remember the model. I’d fancied her at the time. Well, I hadn’t really. I’d just been fascinated with her naked body. At the time anything remotely naked turned me on. She’d been okay to look at for an older woman and I’d been pretty damned curious about what women looked like when Mum kept bringing paintings of a nude woman home with her. Looking at the paintings, I’d had a weird feeling in the pit of my belly and it was probably the first time I’d actually realised that my penis was for something other than peeing with...

It made me realise that I really wanted to see what that woman looked like in real life.

I’d still been pretty much obsessed with boobs a couple of years later when Molly Anderson started flirting with me and I couldn’t stop myself going on about them to Denny all of the time. Strangely, he’d never really shown much of an interest but I didn’t really think much about why he wasn’t interested until that summer when we were sixteen. The summer that changed my life...

I’d turned sixteen in April, three months after Denny. I’d been used to my body reacting to anything remotely sexy for a couple of years since my hormones had kicked in with puberty but suddenly I started to get all of these other feelings. Feelings that I’d recognised as completely normal when I’d been lusting after Molly Anderson and her big squashy boobs (and I’m not gonna lie – they felt fucking awesome) didn’t feel quite so comfortable when they were for my best friend and my new obsession with his dick.

And my God, I honestly tried my best to ignore them. I’d really tried to brush them off as just one of those things and that I’d woken up with a boner because I had to have been thinking of Molly at the same time as I was thinking of Denny... but I knew, deep down that I was lying to myself and that it was just my stupid naivety allowing me to ignore what was staring me in the face.

It wasn’t as if I didn’t know there were gay people in the world, I did know that – but the only ones I knew at the time were celebrities and the way Dad spoke about them, they were all shamelessly promiscuous and had no morals. As far as he was concerned, being as straight as straight could be, they’d all obviously chosen to be gay just for the fame and notoriety... Normal people that you passed in the street or went to school with weren’t gay...

It really didn’t help that I didn’t know anyone that had come out. There were a couple of guys at school that I’d wondered about a couple of times. Marlon Bridges was exceedingly camp but perpetually single and Dixon Campbell in sixth form had the reddest lips possible – and I swear he wore eyeliner too – but I’d never seen him with another guy either.

And you know, I was only sixteen and call me stupid if you like, but honestly, I had no idea that mere mortals sometimes fancied people of the same sex as themselves – or at least I didn’t think it was something that didn’t take a conscious effort. Everyday folk just did what their parents did, didn’t they? They weren’t celebrities. They were just normal. And therefore, to my innocent mind, they were straight. These weird feelings were clearly just a mistake... With straight-laced parents like mine, who I’d have been mortified to confide in, there was no way I could have known that my feelings were actually pretty normal – and that I was, quite clearly and whether I liked it or not – bisexual.

 

 

Chapter 5 – Same old...

 

Hendrix

 

Hendrix opened his eyes and blinked in the brightness. Where the hell was he and why did he feel like utter shit? His eyes met with a familiar pair. It was his cousin, Daryl – Lenny’s younger brother. Oh, Christ. He was almost as bad as Lenny... “Nice to have you back.” Daryl drawled, “Now are you gonna try explaining why you were trying to kill yourself?”

He wasn’t trying to kill himself but that had nothing to do with Daryl and he wasn’t about to admit to anything. He’d learned around his cousins since his brother had died and left him homeless that the less said around them, the better. “That’s none of your fucking business.” He snapped. “And I want my fucking money back too.” Of course it was Daryl who’d taken it. No one else had known about his secret hidey-hole in the bottom of his wardrobe when he’d lived at home before he’d had to move out after everyone died on him, but Daryl had known about it and he’d obviously remembered it. No doubt that was first place he’d checked when he’d broken into his flat. The sneaky bastard. Still, he told himself, he should have known better than to keep on using the same idea. He should have known that Daryl wouldn’t forget...

And Daryl would do anything for his brother – he was afraid of him and with good reason. Lenny was a vicious bastard when he was crossed.

Daryl shrugged, “Call it a loan.” He said with a grin, “Where the fuck did you amass all that money anyway?”

Hendrix shrugged. It was none of his goddamn business. Daryl was no better than his brother, but where Lenny saw Hendrix’s sexuality as a tool to be used and make money from, Daryl was more likely to rip his head off if he thought he was gay and had earned the money from sleeping with men. “This and that.”

Daryl scowled menacingly and cracked his knuckles, “Well, that’s not what I heard.” He said, “I heard that you’re some kind of cockslut that fucks guys for money. Are you?”

Hendrix sighed. It was bound to get out sooner or later. “I needed the money to get out of here.” He muttered.

Daryl stared at him, “But fucking men for money, dude – that’s fucking gross.” He paused, eyeing Hendrix curiously and he knew what was coming next. Daryl was so easy to read, “So are you actually gay or one of those gay-for-pay type of guys?”

Hendrix shrugged, willing himself not to roll his eyes. He wondered what difference it would make to Daryl and decided to go for the truth – he’d find out anyway, sooner or later it would become obvious. “Well, obviously.” He said, “And there are worse ways of making money.”

Daryl shook his head, “No, mate.” He said with a snort, “There really aren’t.”

Hendrix thought about the way his brother had looked the last time he saw him and swallowed back the bile that rose up into his throat. Drugs were far worse. They destroyed people. Giving a guy a blowjob for a tenner wasn’t hurting anyone... “So why did you bring me here?” Hendrix asked, “What’s the deal?”

Daryl grinned, “We’re gonna be fucking minted, mate – there’s a massive shipment coming in – we’ve just got to intercept it and we need all hands on deck.”

Hendrix’s blood ran cold. This was why he’d wanted out. He was sick of the double-crossing and the stealing and the general bad-living that went with it all. He wanted to leave all of this happiness-draining lifestyle behind and make a new life far away from it all – with Mason. The sweet, loving, beautiful Mason who wouldn’t know a spliff from a bong and was going to be rich one day, but rich from earning his money honestly. How Mason had ever been attracted to Hendrix in the first place was quite beyond him but even if he never saw him again – he would be forever grateful for the few months he’d had him in his life... He’d at least shown him a better way of life than the one he’d been born to. He’d given him hope.

“Count me out, dude.” He said firmly, “I made a deal with Lenny – I fuck the guys and he takes his commission. I don’t have anything to do with the drugs.”

Daryl shook his head, “Maybe he changed his mind.” He said with a grin, “Because he sent me to get you.” He chuckled.

Hendrix swallowed. Fuck. Lenny must have known something, “Then you’d better tell them I died.” He muttered.

A look of panic crossed Daryl’s face, “I can’t do that – Lenny’ll kill me if I say that – you know that as well as I do. I was sent to find you, dude.”

Hendrix shook his head and rolled his eyes. He was never going to get away. “Fuck my life.” He muttered. He’d never been able to be his own man whilst ever Lenny was alive... “Right, then,” he said with a sigh, resigned to the fact that he wasn’t going to be able to get away from the gang for a while. “What do I have to do?”

 

 

Chapter 6 – Crime of passion?

 

Denny

 

Blaine flopped down in the chair next to mine at the station and tossed the folder on the table in front of us. It was the case that we’d been working on for a couple of months and it was going absolutely nowhere. This latest ‘stake-out’ would probably be a complete waste of time, too but I wasn’t about to start complaining since it meant a whole lot of alone time with my favourite person in the whole world.

Blaine was getting really irritated with it because it was interfering with his time. Something I really didn’t care too much about, being a perpetual bachelor but Blaine was in a relationship of sorts and Catherine was actually really nice. I hated her on principal only. She was getting something from Blaine that I could only dream about...

Blaine scowled at me, “This is fucking stupid,” he growled, “Surely someone’s gotta start sweating soon.”

I nodded, “They will, mate.” I said softly, but I wasn’t entirely convinced. The entire community had gone tight-lipped on us. No one was talking – but we knew they all knew something about what had gone down and it was so frustrating that up to now, they were keeping schtum.

He let out a long sigh, “Fuck me,” he said, rubbing his face, “What the hell is with them? They’re almost incestuous, this lot.”

I looked at Blaine with what he would definitely call my ‘furrowed brow’ look, “Incestuous?” I asked with a laugh, “I don’t really think that’s the right word, dude.”

He chuckled and shrugged his shoulders, “No, okay – maybe that’s not the right word – but they’re all in each other’s pockets, aren’t they? So much so, that not one of them will spill the beans – the guy could die – and that makes at least one of them a murderer. Why would you protect someone like that?”

I shrugged, “God knows – maybe they all hate him. We already know that at least one of them hates that Brendan guy so much they put a bullet in him – he might be alive at the moment – but he’s gonna be in that coma for at least another week before they decide to try to bring him round. And we really need to try to figure out what happened to the young guy – Hendrix. His boyfriend is convinced he was kidnapped – and there’s no body but all that stinking blood – so what the hell happened to him? Was he murdered and dumped? Or kidnapped like Mason thinks? Or was it some elaborate attempt of his own to make him look like he was murdered? And if that was the case – why?” I had so many questions and no answers. I usually loved a case but this one was virtually impossible. If the underworld wouldn’t spill their guts, we had no chance.

Blaine shrugged, “Maybe it was a cry for help – you know – a suicide attempt that went wrong and someone found him and took him to hospital...”

I shrugged, “Yeah – it’s possible – but if that was the case then surely he’d have reappeared by now...?”

He sighed, “Maybe he’s left the country and it was a massive hoax...”

I shook my head, “Nah, he was definitely moved – whether he’s dead or alive now is another matter, of course.”

Blaine nodded slowly, “He was well known as a rent-boy... And it’s widely assumed that his cousin, Lenny Roblinski was his pimp. Was Brendan a client or something? Was Brendan involved with Lenny maybe?”

I shook my head, “No.” I said with certainty, “Lenny’s definitely straight. He pimps out that young kid – he doesn’t take part in the activities himself.”

He sighed and nodded, “Well, maybe Hendrix had just got sick of him taking all the money when he was doing all the work and decided to end it all.”

I nodded. That made sense but where the hell was his body – that bit was creepy. “What about Brendan, then? Who pulled the trigger on him?”

He shrugged again, “Crime of passion?” He said. He was sleeping around wasn’t he?”

I nodded, “Allegedly.” I agreed. I didn’t actually think he was. I was more of the opinion that he’d done something else to piss one of the clan off and they’d taken their revenge – but until he woke up we had nothing.

He scratched his chin thoughtfully, “maybe we should go and interview them all again. If it is a crime of passion, then the one who’s done it is gonna be dying on the inside for what they’ve done to him. That’s gotta be eating him up. My money’s on it being the boyfriend.”

“Oscar?” I asked incredulously. No way...

He nodded and shrugged, “Sure.” He said, “Who wants to be cheated on?”

He had a point... Brendan was a very ‘out’ gay man who liked to put it about a bit – or at least he had been in the past. He could well have just rubbed his boyfriend’s nose in it one time too many. His distraught appearance could all be for show but I didn’t think so, somehow. I felt that Oscar was actually the innocent party in the whole thing and genuinely loved him.

I tapped my chin with my finger, “I guess it could have been his boyfriend,” I conceded, “or maybe it was another one of the guys from the estate that deal – being out and proud isn’t all that he’s about. Buzz has had to throw him out of the club for taking drugs in the bathrooms on more than once occasion – there was no proof that he was dealing but, come on – no one gets that rich that fast. You can bet your life the Roblinskis are either jealous of his status – or he’s undercut them and they’ve had enough of being taken the piss out of.”

“Seriously?” Blaine asked, his eyebrows going up, “You really thinks so?”

I shrugged. “Oh, God. I don’t know – it’s just a theory...”

He nodded, “And these guys – the Roblinskis. They’re the ones we’ve got to watch – and bug their apartment?”

I nodded, “Yeah.” I said, biting my lip and looking at him anxiously. Would he flip? “I think it might be down to me that we’re being sent. I mentioned it to Harley after I saw something weird...” I trailed off, feeling my face growing hot. Blaine was about to freak out on me for checking things out without him... “I uh, I might have been doing a bit of sniffing around on my own while you’ve been busy with Catherine...” I tried to keep the envy out of my voice that he and Catherine were getting it on, on a more or less permanent basis but it was a struggle.

Blaine narrowed his eyes at me. He knew as well as I did where Brendan liked to hang out and meet new men, “Where?” he asked, a frown appearing on his gorgeous face, “At Studs?”

I nodded. I was sick to the back teeth of trying to pretend that Blaine didn’t know that I was as gay as a rainbow in my own time, “Actually, yeah.” I admitted going a little red, “It’s kind of cool, that place.”

He narrowed his eyes at me, “I don’t want you going there alone again, you hear?” He said, “Those sorts of places are fine if you’re gay,” he blushed bright red, “and, uh – out.” He added at my raised eyebrows, “But if you’re not out, you’re just asking for trouble.”

I shrugged and nodded, “Fine.” I said, “But I knew Harley was going to be there. I wasn’t actually alone.” And I’d been that often, I knew most of the staff now too...

That seemed to placate him a little, “Alright, I guess that’s fine. Whose been talking there, then?” he asked gruffly.

I shrugged, “No one specific. Seth, the guy that works behind the bar, said that he knew who Brendan was. He reckoned he was a fairly regular punter, which we already knew,” Blaine nodded, “But he reckoned since he got thrown out for taking drugs in the bathroom – which was months before he met Oscar, by the way – he behaved himself and just went to dance. He also said that he’d never seen him hang out with any dodgy looking people and he never left with anyone. So it doesn’t look like he was cheating on his partner...” He frowned.

It was most likely to be the Roblinski family – let’s face it, they were responsible for most of the petty crime in the area and this was just them stepping it up a little. The question remained – what the hell was the connection? If we could only establish that – we could likely solve the whole thing and get Lenny Roblinski sent down for a long time... “We’ll get to the bottom of it one way or the other – it’s us on the case.” I grinned.

Blaine nodded again, giving me a little smile and scratching his neck absently, making my dick twitch, “Hmm.” He murmured. “You’re right – we just need to establish a motive.”

I rolled my head on my shoulders. Despite my growing erection, I was feeling quite tense. “We do,” I agreed, “But I reckon someone else is gonna have to work on the finer details – we’ve got a reprieve from the case, with us going out to the cabin. I wonder who’s gonna take over this end of the case while we’re out in the middle of nowhere.”

Blaine shrugged, “I’m guessing, with us out of the picture it’ll fall to Colby and Harrison.”

I pulled a face, “Jesus. Colby’s gonna be absolutely unbearable if they manage to crack the case while we’re away.”

Blaine grinned and nodded, “Yeah,” he agreed, “But it’ll also be the only one they’ve ever managed alone – and we’ll probably end up finding out more about it all out there anyway – it’s usually the case.”

We really were a remarkable team. I’d always thought so... I shrugged and nodded, “Yeah,” I agreed, “you’re right.”

His walkie-talkie crackled at that moment, “Blaine?”

“Hayley,” He grinned at me, making my heart spike. “What can I do for you?”

“Another bomb scare at Diamonds and Lace. Second one this week – can you and Denny attend?”

“We’re on it.” He said, “Come on.” He held his hand out to me.

Grabbing hold of his hand, I allowed him to pull me to my feet. I revelled in moments like that but I had to pretend otherwise. I sighed and got to my feet. It was gonna be a long day.

 

 

Chapter 7 – The cabin in the woods...

 

Denny

 

“Welcome home, sweetheart.” I grinned at Blaine as I unlocked the cabin door and held it open for him.

“You’re a dick.” He grumbled good-naturedly as he passed me with his holdall, grinning all over his face, “Bags I the biggest bedroom.”

I rolled my eyes, “I’m pretty sure they’ll both be about the same.” I said as I kicked the door shut behind me and followed him into the cabin. It was actually one of many on a disused holiday park that was up for resale and I really loved the remote location. It overlooked the valley and was actually a really beautiful place that totally lent itself to be a retreat of sorts. My mind wandered as I thought about a whole new career, running the place with my best friend. We could really make this somewhere that people would want to come. It didn’t necessarily have to be tailored to gay men, but with the lake for fishing and the natural privacy it really did offer a very attractive place that many gay or curious men would like to come...

I opened my mouth to tell Blaine about my ideas for the place but promptly closed it again when I realised that as much as he might suspect I was secretly gay – I hadn’t come out to him and therefore, it would seem a little odd to him for me to be talking about a retreat aimed at gay guys, with another idea bubbling to the surface for it to also be a safe place for them to go on first dates together...

Maybe one day...

 

 

Blaine

 

I hadn’t exactly been looking forward to being in the middle of nowhere for weeks on end, but neither was I dreading it. The peace and quiet might be quite good for us... Well that was the theory but the reality was a little harder to deal with, as I soon found out...

Being around Denny twenty-four, seven wasn’t what I’d thought it would be at all. I thought we’d get on each other’s nerves in a matter of hours and spend most of our time apart. In reality it was quite the opposite. We got on absolutely brilliantly, sparking off all those feelings I’d had for him years ago when we’d first met which would have been absolutely fine if he felt exactly the same way...

We’d been at the cabin for a few days and had set up the surveillance equipment. Most if what we’d set up was recording and transmitting straight back to HQ so the little surveillance we had to do was kind of boring. We’d taken the PlayStation and I could hear Denny’s cries of disappointment from the lounge as the FIFA game ‘cheated’ again. I smiled as I gazed through the binoculars. Nothing at all was happening down there in the valley. Whoever it was down there had gone awfully quiet. It made me wonder if we were going to see anything at all. Still, we had another six weeks – and let’s face it, anything could happen in that time...

 

 

*

 

After scouring the kitchen cupboards for something decent to eat, I gave up and poured myself some muesli out of the packet Denny had brought with him and added some milk. We’d been here a couple of weeks, taking it in turns to keep watching the house and fighting the boredom by playing on the PlayStation. Nothing much was happening but we’d had positive sightings of two of them now and knew that it was Lenny and Daryl Roblinski. There were definitely three of them though, and we’d come to the conclusion that the third one was their cousin, Hendrix McCarthy. The idea that they might be stashing his body was creepy beyond belief and I was hoping against hope that he’d actually survived the bloodbath that was his bedsit. Of course we needed to have all three of them away from the property before we could go in and put the microphones in there – but if he was in a bad way there was no way he’d be leaving the place.

I’d always wanted to go on a Stake-out – but they really weren’t the exciting operations people thought they were. I’d been told by other officers that they were totally boring and were usually weeks on end of utter mind-numbing nothingness that ended in disappointment. Well, that might have been the case from a professional point of view – but on a personal basis I couldn’t have been happier.

Denny wandered through from the lounge in just his pyjama bottoms, scratching his chest and yawning widely. His shock of white-blonde hair was standing up at the back and flat to his head on one side. His eyes were still a little sleepy-looking. His nipple rings sparkled in the sunlight coming in through the window. The overall effect was just fucking magnificent, “Morning, dude.” He grinned at me.

I blinked as I realised that I was just stood there staring at him with my mouth slightly open but nipple rings? Fuck me... Muttering a ‘good morning’ I hurriedly averted my eyes back down to my bowl of cereal. God, I hated muesli. Give me a bowl of crunchy nut cornflakes any day of the week. I’d really have to go out shopping later on. Maybe I could do that on the way back from planting the bugs in the premises we had under surveillance...

I chewed my tasteless cereal, still not looking up at Denny. What the hell was wrong with me? I must have cabin fever or something... I kept thinking about his nipples, my mind wandering and picturing myself tugging on them with my teeth and I really wanted to have another look. This was ridiculous – I didn’t fancy Denny. I didn’t...

But I couldn’t deny that I’d always really liked him and I’d always loved being with him – it was like I felt a magnetic attraction to his personality. And I’d always wanted to touch him too. To sling an arm around his shoulder or to hug him when we hadn’t seen each other for a while... but that was normal, right? You were allowed to love your mates...

But why had I never noticed how pretty his eyes were before now? Or what a beautiful colour they were? You have though, Blaine, that annoying little voice at the back of my mind reminded me, you remember the summer of 2009 like it was yesterday, don’t even try to pretend that you don’t...

My other voice – the one I liked to believe was my voice of reason but strongly suspected was just my voice of fear – shouted up from the other corner of my brain. Snap out of it! That was a mistake! You both agreed that it was just the two of you experimenting. You both agreed that you weren’t fucking gay!

But there had to be some sort of an explanation as to why I was suddenly noticing how attractive he was. It must have just been that we’d been spending too much time around Harley and Alfie – the most openly gay and loved up couple we knew – making it seem totally normal to be in love with another guy...

And yeah, damned right that I was jealous of their relationship –since I’d made up my mind to be straight at sixteen, I’d never experienced love like that. I’d had plenty of girlfriends – Catherine was just the latest of a long line of failed relationships. I didn’t know what I was looking for... or maybe I did know and I was just afraid to accept that I’d found it long ago.

I looked at Denny out of the corner of my eye. He had his feet up on the table and was balancing on his chair on the back two legs, his ear buds in listening to his music with his eyes closed. Chewing his beloved muesli like it was the most delicious taste in the world. I sighed. God he was so damned beautiful. Maybe, just maybe I’d been looking for whatever it was I really wanted in the wrong place – maybe my sixteen-year-old self had been right all along. Maybe I’d just been fishing in the wrong pond for the last eight years... Jesus. I really needed to get some fresh air – and some perspective...

I went outside, taking the binoculars with me. Taking a few deep breaths of the sweet morning air I trained the binoculars down the valley and homed in on the property. My heart almost stopped as I saw the door open and three, three men appeared in the doorway. Lenny, Daryl and... He looked deathly pale and painfully thin but it was definitely Hendrix McCarthy – alive and obviously not well, but very definitely existing...

And they were going somewhere. Well, that was it then – time to bug the old place... and it couldn’t have come at a better time because I really needed a little space between Denny and I before I did something really stupid...

 

 

Chapter 8 – Bugging...

 

Blaine

 

 

“Where are you dude?” Denny’s concerned voice cracked through the walkie-talkie and I froze. I grabbed the walkie-talkie and pressed the button that allowed me to speak, “I’m about ten metres away from the front door, dude – what’s up?” I hissed.

“Nothing,” he sounded a little offended, “I was just concerned that’s all.”

“Well, I’ll holler if I need you, okay?” Yes I was being a right diva... I just felt pressured to get this right – not least so that Denny was proud of me... And no. I didn’t want to analyse why that meant so much to me too closely right now.

“Well, there’s no one in sight.” He reported helpfully.

Great. At least I had a couple of minutes. “Thanks, mate.” I said, “I’m going in now, let me know if there’s any sign of anyone.”

My heart was in my mouth to enter the property but it had to be done and I’d had more training in breaking and entering than Denny. Besides – I was the one that did this sort of thing. I was more the brawn to Denny’s brains. I’d always looked out for him...

I talked through everything I was doing to Denny and he was offering a little support and keeping me up to date with anyone that was passing the house. Finally I’d finished and I was out of there again. Heaving a massive sigh of relief I was able to say, “I’m on my way back, mate.”

“Thank God.” He muttered, “I’ll put the kettle on...”

I grinned as I checked all around me. I’d not left any trace...

 

 

Denny

 

I was like a cat on a hot tin roof with Blaine out of the cabin. This wasn’t a game – it was real life and if those guys had come back and found Blaine – they wouldn’t make polite conversation. They’d have probably killed him.

I heard his steady footsteps crunching on the gravel outside and flung open the door of the cabin, “Come here.” I threw my arms around his neck, not caring in the slightest that I was showing him how much he meant to me. I couldn’t help it – I was emotional, so shoot me...

He chuckled and hugged me back, “Let’s get something to eat,” he said, patting me on the back, “And a nice cup of something hot.”

I nodded, “I’m just making us a pot of tea.” I sniffed, wiping my eyes on the back of my hand as I followed him into the cabin. “So, give me the low down – what’s going on in there?”

Blaine kicked off his shoes and stretched out on the sofa, “Well, nothing much.” He said, “It only looks like the three of them are staying there – you know – there are no feminine touches around the place.”

I tried not to grimace. There were no guys in my house back at home but it didn’t mean I wanted to live like a slob. My house was always pristinely tidy and it wasn’t just overall grey and brown either... “Well, that’s normal, I guess...”

He shrugged and nodded, “Yeah, bunch of fucking scumbags...”

So, where did you put the devices?”

He grinned, “Everywhere.” He said, “They’re never going to find them, I was very discreet – but we’re going to be able to hear everything!”

I nodded, “Good.” I said, “I’ll make us a sandwich.”

His eyes lit up, “Can we have that tuna, mayo and sweet corn combo you did the other day – that was delicious.”

I nodded, glowing a little on the inside that he liked my food. My mother’s voice went through my head telling me that finding the way to a man’s heart was through his stomach and I smiled to myself. I was quite sure she’d said it for my sister’s benefit and wasn’t actually referring to me finding a man but still... shit happened.

I made the sandwiches and took them back through to the lounge. Blaine had his eyes closed and was nodding along to something he was listening to through his ear buds. I nudged his foot with my toe, “Your lunch, mate.”

He opened his eyes and grinned up at me. My breath caught in my throat. He really should come with a public health warning for that smile. It made my heart jump...

I sat down on the other sofa and picked up my sandwich. I took a bite and closed my eyes, savouring the flavour. Damn, I really could make a decent sandwich.

Opening my eyes again, I glanced across to see if Blaine was enjoying his sandwich. He was looking at me with his sandwich in his hand, his mouth slightly open and his eyes trained on my mouth. Shit. I’d dropped my guard...

“Oh, fuck, do I have mayonnaise on my chin or something?” I asked, utterly mortified.

He jumped slightly and shook his head, “Uh, no. No. I’m sorry,” he blushed bright red, “I uh, I just zoned out there for a moment.” He shoved his sandwich in his mouth and lowered his eyes, “Mmm, delicious.” He managed after swallowing too early and almost choking himself, “Thanks, man.” He added.

I frowned. What the hell was that all about? “You’re welcome.” I murmured.

He’d soon recovered himself and was recalling memories of our teen years – some of the best and worst years of my life. They were the best, because for the main part, I’d had Blaine all to myself all of the time – and then as we got older, they became the worst because I’d had perfection for a couple of days – and then Blaine had done an about turn and had totally changed his mind deciding that he was straight and shattering my heart in the process, although I’d never told him that. I just went along with it, grinning as heartily as I could manage and agreeing that it had been fun while it lasted but it didn’t have to mean anything – that of course we were both straight and wanking each other off and having anal sex was all part of normal teen boy experimentation...

“I mean, we’re not gay, are we?” he asked me, his face red and looking at me earnestly.

I blinked. He wasn’t? Shit. I was pretty damned sure that I was definitely gay. I’d never considered dating girls. I didn’t fancy girls. I’d had celebrity crushes on men my whole life. And I was in love with my best friend. “Uh, no. Course not...” I felt it better to agree with him. He was quite clearly not ready to embrace his sexuality. “We were just... experimenting.” That was the word that other guys always used online when they were discussing things in the forums.

He breathed a sigh of relief, “Yeah, that’s what I thought too.” He said, nodding earnestly, “I’m not saying I didn’t have fun – but I’m defo straight. I’m gonna ask Saskia George to the prom.”

“Saskia?” I asked faintly as my heart was ripped out of my chest and stamped all over the floor under his Dr Martens... “Right.” I nodded, “She’s a cool girl.” I was so relieved that my voice had come out sounding normal when all I really wanted to do was to go home and lock myself in my bedroom, bury my face into my pillow and cry until I couldn’t cry anymore but I couldn’t do that – he’d think I was a right poof...

He grinned at me, that adorable dimple appearing as if it was taunting me, “And you could ask her mate – Eva.”

I nodded, “Sure, sure.” No fucking way. I wasn’t going to go to the Prom and watch Saskia kissing and dancing with my boyfriend. I’d stay at home and watch True Blood...

I jumped slightly as he asked me a question. I’d been miles away there. “Uh?”

“You never did turn up to Prom.” It wasn’t really a question, it was more of a statement really. I really didn’t know where he was going with it since I hadn’t actually listened to what he’d said before.

I shook my head, “No,” I agreed, “I didn’t.” Fuck. I didn’t really want to get into this right now. I couldn’t for the life of me remember the excuse I’d given to him for not double-dating with him and Saskia and her mate...

I got up and snatched his plate out of his hand, “Fancy a scone or something?”

He frowned up at me, “Uh, yeah – sure.”

I nodded and shot off to the kitchen.

He only fucking followed me, “What was the girl’s name. The one I took to Prom?”

Seriously? He couldn’t remember? I guess that’s what you got for dating every girl you could get your hands on... “Saskia George.”

“Riiiiight.” He smiled, “Saskia.”

I bit my lip and grimaced, wondering what he was remembering about her and hoping that a bitchy comment wasn’t about to come flying out of my mouth against my will. The way I remembered her probably wasn’t the way he did. I remembered that she had bright red lips, lots of badly applied foundation, false eyelashes, the biggest boobs in the year and a bit of a reputation for sleeping around. Blaine had always liked boobs...

“So you didn’t fancy her mate?” He asked.

I rolled my eyes, “No, Blaine. I never fancied her mate.” He had to know. He had to have worked it out by now. I never dated women. I rarely dated anyone.

 

 

Chapter 9 – Home truths...

 

Blaine

 

My heart was in my mouth. For as far back as I could remember, Denny had never had a girlfriend. He had to be gay. He had to be...

Did that mean that when we fooled around that summer that he’d really been into me?

Fuck. Probably – just as I’d been really into him – but then I’d gone and totally ruined it all.... Or had I?

“I taught you everything I knew about kissing...”

He blinked, “Oh, yeah?” he asked with a smirk. “I’m pretty sure I told you how to use your tongue.”

I grinned. He fucking did too – I’d forgotten that, “Oh, yeah.” I nodded, “You did.”

He grinned, “Anytime you want a re-run.” He winked, and my heart almost beat out of my chest.

I nodded, “Sure.” I winked back at him but I wasn’t anywhere near as confident as he looked.

I had to know for sure suddenly. I had to ask... “Are you gay, Denny?”

He closed his eyes, took in a deep breath and nodded, “Yes,” he replied, opening his eyes and gazing at me steadily, “I am. But I don’t want that to ruin our friendship. I love you, Blaine – I always have, but I respect that you’re straight and I know nothing could ever happen between us. I just want to be your best friend. Forever.”

I swallowed. I wanted more than that. I just had no idea how to tell him. Or maybe I didn’t and it was just cabin fever. Fuck. I’d never felt more confused in my whole life... “Me too,” I forced a smile and kept my thoughts to myself. Hopefully the conversation might come up again when we were back home and we could have a proper discussion about it all...

 

*

 

I ate the scone that Denny had made me – complete with butter and strawberry jam just the way I liked it and we settled down to play one of my many PlayStation games but I just couldn’t keep my mind on it. My mind was way back in 2009 and what we did with each other in my bedroom and the lounge and anywhere else we could sneakily kiss and touch each other when we were convinced no one else could see us.

And I know we’d just said we were going to just be best friends forever – but I’d opened the can of worms now and I wanted to delve a little deeper...

“So, I’m guessing you remember that summer as well as I do then?”

He stopped playing the game and turned to me, “Can we not go there.” He murmured.

I blinked, “Why not?”

He gave me one of his looks and I felt my face begin to heat up. “Are you serious?” he asked, “Don’t you think I find it embarrassing enough that I thought I’d found my soulmate in you and all the time you were nailing me you were just dreaming of being with Saskia and planning your prom night with her?”

Oh fuck. Did he really think that? I guess it was a reasonable conclusion since I did go to prom with her almost as soon as I’d lied through my teeth about the way I felt about him... God. I was such a wanker... “It wasn’t like that.” I muttered.

He nodded, “It was, mate. And it took me a long time to come to terms with – I really thought you felt the same way I did. I was heartbroken, Blaine. It took me ages to put it behind me – please don’t make me go there again – it’s too painful.”

I nodded, “Hey, man – the last thing I’d ever want to do is hurt you. Forget I asked.”

He nodded, “Cool.” He said, “I think I’ll turn in.”

It was far too early to go to bed but I got it that he didn’t want to be around me anymore tonight. “See you tomorrow.” I said.

“Yeah,” he murmured, “Goodnight Blaine.”

 

 

Denny

 

Shit. Why did I have to say all that shit? He’d think I was a right pansy to be admitting that I’d been in love with him and that I was heartbroken when he dashed all of my hopes.

Oh well, I’d lived without his touch and kisses for the last eight years, I could do this...

I woke up with a bit of a start. It wasn’t that I’d heard anything – Christ, in the middle of nowhere the nights were pretty much absolute silence...

I lay there for a second with my heart pounding and wondering why I felt weird. Then I went to turn over and... Oh, my God... What sort of a fucking dream had I been having for that to happen? Because, holy shit, I’d spunked my boxer shorts. It had to be have been the conversation we’d had this afternoon... It had thrown up old memories and taken me back.

But fuck. I hadn’t done that since I was what? Thirteen? I blushed as I remembered being that age and how my feelings for my best friend had changed since we’d met at eleven and he’d just been the coolest person I’d ever met.

Well, clearly nothing had really changed in the last eight years then, despite my best efforts to keep a lid on it. I was still dreaming about Blaine – and I was still waking up with a boner for him – and this time I’d actually come in my sleep... “Shit,” I mumbled to myself as I scrambled out of my bed and headed for the bathroom. I yawned, scratching my chest as I went. I grabbed a fresh pair of boxers on the way. I was going to have to get washed up. I went to push the door open but found that it was tight shut. Fuck! The object of my very sexy and very embarrassingly wet dream was in the bathroom. “You okay?” I shouted through, feeling suddenly a little concerned about him. Well, it was four in the morning and he usually snored all fucking night...

He mumbled something back to me.

I scurried back to my bed. There was no way I wanted him to see my sticky wet boxer shorts. How was I supposed to explain that I’d been dreaming about him?

Well, obviously I wasn’t dreaming about him like that... Actually, now that I thought about it – I really had been dreaming about him like that... Fuck. That was embarrassing... He was totally off limits. I knew that. I’d accepted he wasn’t gay eight years ago...

I went back to bed and lay down and tried to make sense of the way I was feeling. Why now? Why was I still torturing myself? He’s straight. Straight Denny! Move on...

I repeated my mantra to myself for hours but in the end I had to admit a few things to myself. One. I didn’t care that he was in one of his ‘very serious’ relationships. Two. I didn’t care that I’d had an on-and-off boyfriend who’d broken up with me because he reckoned I was married to my job and paid him no attention – shoot me, it was a good enough excuse... Three. I was at my happiest when I was with him so none of what had gone before mattered to me.

All that mattered was the way I felt right now – and if I’m going to be honest – right now I was fucking horny. And I was horny for Blaine. I had no idea why I was suddenly having all these feelings for him when I’d spent the best part of the last eight years watching him bed girls left, right and centre whilst telling myself that it didn’t matter to me. That I was over my teenage crush and that he was just my friend...

Maybe it was the solitude. I’d never been with him for so long, alone, before. We did out shifts together and then went back home. I wasn’t overwhelmed with his presence. But being with him twenty-four seven for so long... well, my guard was down. I was totally hooked... Telling him the way I felt about him, though – well, he’d totally freak, wouldn’t he...? He hadn’t freaked this afternoon when I’d admitted that I’d thought he was my soulmate when we were teenagers... would he really be so surprised to realise that I still felt exactly the same way about him?

I sighed and rubbed my face. Of course he’d totally freak. And then he’d find it intolerable to work with me – and he’d ask for a transfer and then I’d lose him altogether. Fuck. There was no way I could tell him the truth about my real feelings. I just couldn’t...

 

 

Chapter 10 – Facing the truth...

 

Blaine

 

No, no, no! Holy hell. What the fuck was wrong with me? I’d honestly thought I’d long gotten over my obsession with my best friend. And I didn’t think Denny was sexy anymore... I didn’t.

Fuck. I did. Of course I did... I was totally drooling over him at breakfast. I was just thankful that he hadn’t noticed. His nipples flashed into my mind and I closed my eyes. Fuck. I was totally screwed. Everything about him attracted my attention.

Opening my eyes again, I stared at myself in the bathroom mirror opposite the shower. Shit. I totally did...

How the hell had I allowed that to happen? What had made him sexy again? Was I just going stir-crazy being stuck here day after day waiting for something to happen? Or had I always found him sexy and had just dated girls, having sex with them while imagining I was making love to someone else?

Well, whatever I’d been thinking about, I’d never expected this to happen.

I looked down as my cock erupted. I was wanking myself off in the shower at thoughts of my working partner at four in the morning. Now that was fucking weird...

And then, almost as if he somehow knew what I was thinking about, he went and knocked on the fucking door. What the hell was he doing up at this time in the morning?

Suddenly a thought occurred to me – was he feeling the same sexual tension that I was? Was it actually nothing to worry about? Just being trapped here together away from civilization? Could we maybe just do each other a favour? And then, just like when we were sixteen, never speak of it again... Oh, my God... what the hell was I thinking? I seriously needed to get back to civilization – and to women... Think about boobs for fuck’s sake...

You don’t really like boobs – admit it, you want Denny’s cock inside you, you want to taste it, you want to play with it. You want him. You want Denny. You always have...

Ignoring the voice in my head that I really couldn’t work out if it was my reckless voice or my voice of reason, I cracked the door open and stepped outside. I really should just go back to my room and sleep. Tomorrow was going to be another long, boring day... I hesitated. Maybe I should just go and check on Denny – just in case he’d needed the bathroom because he was sick or something...

With my heart in my mouth, I knocked on his bedroom door, “Denny?”

“Yeah?”

I took a deep breath and poked my head around the door. He was in bed with his duvet up to his chin. “You okay, man?”

He looked at me with those enormous grey eyes, “Sure.” He squeaked.

I looked at him in concern, “Are you sure?” I asked.

He sighed and shook his head, “No.” he said softly, making my heart stutter in my chest.

I stepped closer to the bed, “Why? What’s up?” I asked.

“Bad dream...”

Aww, how fucking cute was that? I stood at the foot of his bed, all thoughts of worrying about having a wank in the shower whilst I thought about him sucking me off temporarily forgotten about, “Need to talk it out?”

He looked at me in silence, his eyes on me while he chewed his bottom lip. Well, this was awkward. I was stood at the foot of his bed with a semi going on in my boxer shorts. He’d notice in a minute and then my secret would be out there... “Well, I guess I’ll just head to bed, then – I’ll, uh, I’ll see you in the morning, man.”

I turned back and had gotten halfway across the landing to my own bedroom when I stopped in my tracks, heart thumping like a good ‘un and a boner to be proud of as he finally spoke up, “No, please don’t go, Blaine – I really need to talk to you about something.” 

I turned back.

 

*

 

Readjusting myself a little, I pushed his door back open. He’d moved and was sat up in his bed with his pillows behind him. My eyes couldn’t help travelling over his pecs and over those fabulous nipple rings that I couldn’t get out of my mind no matter what I did. I’d known that he had his nipples pierced since they’d first been done because we worked out together at the gym but I’d never been quite so obsessed with getting a good look at them before... or maybe it was just that I never really allowed myself to look at him properly because I subconsciously knew what it did to me. I looked now though and swallowed hard as my mouth went suddenly very, very dry as my eyes roamed over his body, “Hi.” I croaked, “What’s up?”

He shook his head and closed his eyes, “You’re gonna hate me. Please, don’t hate me...”

My heart started to thump. He must be feeling the same as me – why else would he be thinking I’d hate him? “I swear to you, Denny – I could never hate you – quite the opposite in fact.” Fuck, I might as well go and buy the rings now...

He didn’t seem to have noticed that slight faux pas. He looked at me, his eyes clouded with worry, “I’m uh... that is to say...”

“You still fancy me, right?” Please tell me I haven’t read this all wrong...

He nodded, his eyes wide and looking as if he’d prefer to be anywhere else than trapped in this cabin with me. “I promise I haven’t fancied you all the time since...” he trailed off and then he looked me in the eye again, “It must be just because we’re here...”

Well, thanks a bunch... I couldn’t help feeling a little affronted about that, since I’d had my epiphany... Still. It was the conclusion I’d come to, too, “Yeah, I guess – I’ve been feeling exactly the same, dude – reckon it’s just cabin fever or something – why don’t we just, you know,” do what we did that summer when we were sixteen, “wank off together or something?”

He brightened momentarily but then bit his lip again. “Are you sure you want to do that?” he asked.

I nodded. “Yeah, why not?” I said, “It totally makes sense. We trust each other, don’t we?” And that way I don’t have to worry about what it really means to me.

 He nodded, “Yeah, man,” he said, “I trust you with my life. That’s a brilliant idea.” He threw the covers off and patted the bed next to where he was sat.

I didn’t even have to think about it. A warm bed, my favourite guy with a massive boner going on and both of us feeling horny? Bring it on – we’d face the consequences tomorrow...

I settled back against the pillows and pulling my cock out of my shorts, I started to stroke myself.

I heard Denny take in a sharp breath when I got started and I glanced sideways at him wondering if he was freaked out or turned on.

From the look on his face I would say he was definitely turned on and so was I. I glanced down at his crotch. He definitely had a hard-on and yet he hadn’t made a move.

“Are you gonna join me?” I asked breathlessly.

He nodded, “Yeah, sure.” He said but he still didn’t make a move.

I stopped, “Dude, I feel awkward being the entertainment – please – do it too.”

He chuckled and grabbed a hold of his cock. I watched in fascination as he worked himself. Oh, my God – that was fucking horny...

He breathing started to quicken and his cheeks had turned pink as he got closer to orgasm.

I was getting close too and I realised that all I could hear in the room was the sound of our breathing and the sound of us both working our lubricated cocks. It was very sexy.

Denny came first. He grunted as streams of white come spattered up his stomach and his chest.

I stared at it and suddenly I was overwhelmed with my own orgasm. I gasped as I came harder than I’d come in ages. “Ohh, fuck.” I panted, “That was fucking awesome.”

He nodded, “We really should get cleaned up – we didn’t think this through, mate.”

I chuckled, “We didn’t.” I said. Sliding my boxers down my legs I wiped myself up and then passed them to Denny, “here,” I said, “Use them and then we’ll get a shower each.”

He shook his head, “Fuck that.” He said, “We can shower in the morning – are you sleeping here?”

I nodded, “Sure.” I agreed, “If that’s okay?”

He smiled, “It’s fine.” He said.

 

 

Chapter 11 – Morning after...

 

Blaine

 

The next morning dawned and I was a little worried that things might be awkward between us but Denny was absolutely fine. He didn’t mention it at all but he acted exactly the same way he always had with me.

By lunchtime it was driving me insane, “Are we even going to talk about what happened last night?”

He blinked, “Uh?”

“Well, you know... The whole wanking with each other...?”

He shrugged, “What’s to talk about – we had fun together didn’t we?” He looked me in the eye, completely unembarrassed.

I nodded, relief flooding through me that he wasn’t freaking out over it. “I guess.”

He grinned, “Then, let’s not worry about it.”

Okay...

But as much as he’d said not to worry about it – I couldn’t help worrying. Was it going to happen again? Did he want me the way I wanted him? Was this going to end up with us lovers? Part of me hoped that it was, even if it was just one night of frustration and eight years since we’d last been intimate with each other. I guess it was difficult to switch off your feelings even if you had been made to think it was wrong...

But could we stay friends after this was all over? Or would it have the opposite effect and make it impossible for us to still be mates?

 

 

Denny

 

I was shitting bricks all day after we’d gotten intimate, that Blaine would freak out. After all, it was him that had freaked out when we were teens, albeit after his dad had found us together in the lounge – not our finest hour – and fuck, I’d freaked out too, to the point of having a panic attack... but it had been fantastic up to that point – before his dad had come home from work early one day and found us...

But I couldn’t think about that now. All I could think about was last night – the pair of us wanking off with each other right there. And I’d been dying to offer to give him a hand... I would next time if it ever happened again.

I didn’t want to push him on it. Hell, I’d already confessed that I was gay – but he hadn’t made any comment about his own sexuality and I didn’t want him thinking that I was pushing him into something that he could turn around and say was against his will – not that I thought he would but you never knew...

I was trying my damnedest to act naturally around him, but I couldn’t stop watching his every move. I was always very aware of him but now it was like all of my senses were super heightened towards him.

“Nothing going on down there.” He said putting the binoculars down and turning towards me.

I smiled, “And they’re not talking about anything interesting either. That kid they’ve got with them does nothing but sleep – do you think we should break cover and go and bust the place? What if the poor kid dies from losing too much blood?”

Blaine shook his head, “He’d have already died wouldn’t he?” he asked, “Surely the fact that he was up and about yesterday proves that he’s at least sort of okay?”

I shrugged. I had no idea. I wasn’t medically trained... “Dunno mate,” I said, “Let’s hope the fucking creeps mention something soon that allows us to go in. I’m sick of waiting for them to put a foot wrong. The sneaky bastards have got away with stuff for too long.”

He nodded, “Yeah, ditto.” He muttered, “Shall we go for a walk in the woods? We can leave everything recording for a little while...”

I brightened. We should stay put but it was so damned boring just watching and waiting all day long and we’d been given the option of getting out for ten minutes or so as long as we were careful, “Sure – sounds great.” I headed to my room to get my trainers.

I came back out to find him waiting for me at the door, “Ready?” he asked.

I nodded.

We walked up through the woods, following the well worn path used by dog walkers and ramblers. It was a truly beautiful setting and we could hear birdsong all around us. Blaine held his hand out to me to help me over a fallen log and didn’t let go once I’d gotten over it. We walked hand in hand after that.

“This is such a beautiful place.” He murmured, “And it’s even better being here with you.”

I nodded, “Yeah,” I agreed, “It’s pretty much perfect.”

He stopped and turned to me, “I’m not sure what’s happening between us, Denny – it’s freaking me out a bit.”

I nodded, “I know.” I said, “Let’s not think too hard about it, huh?” I said, “Let’s just stay in the here and now.”

He smiled, “Cool,” he said, “Shall we head back?”

I nodded, “Better had – if we’ve missed something, Chief’s gonna go nuts.”

We made our way back to the cabin. I put the kettle on to make us both a cup of tea and Blaine played the recordings back. We’d missed nothing but an argument over the music they were going to listen to and Daryl checking that Hendrix was still breathing – they were so uncaring about the kid it was disturbing.

“I’m gonna report that Hendrix isn’t in particularly good health and ask for an opinion from a health professional.” Blaine said with a frown.

I nodded, “Good call.” I said as I handed him his tea. Our fingers brushed together and I shivered slightly at his touch.

We spent the next couple of hours catching up on emails and talking to the chief. He updated us on a few things and then we went back to the surveillance. It was tedious work but it was necessary.

After a while it was clear that Lenny and Daryl had gone out again – presumably leaving Hendrix sleeping since there was no noise from the apartment.

“Well, we could play on the PlayStation for an hour or so...” Blaine looked at me, his cheeks were slightly pink. Did he really want to play on the PlayStation or was that becoming a code word for something else?

Immediately horny, my dick twitched at the idea of it being code for wanking off with each other. I nodded, “Sounds cool.” I said, “Pass me a controller.”

He passed one in silence as I sat down on the sofa next to him.

We started to play the game. My dick was as hard as steel and feeling damned uncomfortable in my jeans.

I glanced at his crotch and found that he was suffering in exactly the same way. Swallowing hard and trying my best to keep my voice as level as possible I spoke up, “Or we could stop pretending that we don’t want to wank off together and actually just do it.”

He nodded, tossing the controller to the side he reached for his zipper, “Fuck, yeah – let’s do that.” He muttered, “I’m so fucking horny I can’t think straight.”

I chuckled as I got my own cock out, “Me too.” I admitted, “I haven’t been able to think of anything else.”

I watched him as he leaned his head back, closing his eyes as his hand moved up and down his impressive length. My mouth watered. God, I wanted him in my mouth...

Closing my eyes I started to work myself. Seconds later I was really close. Just being with Blaine was stimulation enough to have me hard most of the time. Being able to actually do something about it was incredible. “Oh, God.” I panted, “I’m gonna come.”

His eyes flew open, “Me too.” He managed before his cock erupted.

I watched as my own did the same less than a second later, “Shit.” I groaned as I looked at my tee shirt, “Didn’t think this through.”

Blaine laughed, “We really need to wear less next time.”

I stared at him. Had he really just said that? “Sounds like a plan.” I murmured, imagining him deliciously naked and hard for me, as I headed for the kitchen for some kitchen towel. Bringing it back I peeled a couple of sheets off the roll and tossed it over to him.

“I’m kind of tired now.” He said.

I nodded, “Me too.” I flopped down next to him, “Lend us your shoulder mate.” I leaned against him.

He took my hand in his and threaded our fingers together, “That was great.” He said, “I love being with you.”

I nodded, a lump forming in my throat, “Me too,” I whispered.

The rest of the day passed without any further developments at the house – but the same couldn’t be said for Blaine and I. Things were really beginning to develop between us, but frustratingly, I still didn’t really have a clue where I stood with him romantically...

 

 

Chapter 12 – No going back...

 

Blaine

 

I’d fought against my true feelings for so long that it was a bit scary to face them head on like this. But I was drowning in a sea of emotional overload. I was falling head over heels in love with Denny and I really didn’t know what to do about it.

Was he feeling the same way? I didn’t really dare ask in case the answer was no.

I wouldn’t know what to do if he said it was just a bit of fun to pass the time.

I’d wholeheartedly believed him – probably because it was the easiest thing to do – when he’d told me he was straight and that it had just been experimentation when we were younger. But what if he’d been being honest? I’d have outed myself and I couldn’t go and hide back in the closet once I’d come out...

Yes. I was really enjoying myself with him. I couldn’t take my eyes off his cock whenever he got it out and I so wanted to suck him off it was hard not to just dive on him but it was also fair to say that I was shit scared about what we were doing because it had stirred up something real deep inside me – something I’d never felt before – I was in love for the first time in my life and it was scaring the living shit out of me...

It was late in the evening. Nothing was happening down in the valley and we’d guessed they’d all turned in for the night. We’d heard a couple of conversations that we’d reported to the chief and it was really time we got ourselves some sleep – but neither of us were tired.

“Shall we...?” Denny murmured after a while of us both pretending to be interested in what was on the TV.

I nodded and reached for my jeans button, “Yeah.” I said and pulled my semi hard cock out of my boxers.”

“Take them off,” Denny said, “No one’s watching us, “we could walk around naked all day if we wanted to.”

I groaned, “Oh, man, stop it.” I said, “That’s just too much.”

He smiled, “Are you enjoying thinking about me naked?” he asked.

I nodded, all pretence of not finding him the most attractive thing in the whole world forgotten about, “Yeah, baby.’ I said, “Get naked and let me look at you.”

He peeled off his tee shirt and I stared at his nipples, “I love your piercings.” I murmured, “So fucking sexy.”

He raised his eyebrows, “You think?” he asked, looking down at them and touching one. He pulled it slightly, making my semi go instantly hard, “Yeah, I guess they are – I was toying with the idea of one a little lower.”

My jaw dropped, “You’re gonna have your cock pierced?”

He shrugged, “Nah, probably not.” He said, “But I thought about it.”

“Fuck.” I muttered, wondering if he’d make me come just by talking about it, “So fucking sexy.”

He grinned, “Am I turning you on?”

I nodded, “Yeah.” I said, pulling my tee shirt over my head and pushing my jeans down my legs. I felt a little exposed showing my naked body off to Denny but it wasn’t like he hadn’t seen me completely naked before. I actually quite liked it. It felt liberating...

He stood in front of me, completely naked too and started to work his cock. “I could come all over you from here.” He said, “Would you like that?”

I gazed up at him and nodded, “Yeah.” I said, “maybe you could do that later, come and sit down with me.”

He moved and sat next to me, his thigh right against mine, “Is this okay?” he asked.

I nodded. I was openly watching him playing with his cock now. There was no point in pretending that I wasn’t. He knew I was into him and I knew he was into me...

He looked down at my hand working my cock and cleared his throat, “ Do you, uh, want me to give you a hand with that instead?” Denny murmured, his voice all deep and gravelly.

I nodded, “Oh, God, yeah.” I agreed, “We could give each other a hand or...” I trailed off, feeling my face reddening at my suggestion.

Denny’s big grey eyes blinked slowly and I watched his Adam’s apple bob up and down as he swallowed, “or what?” he whispered.

I shook my head, my face on fire. I had not just had that thought. I hadn’t... “Nothing,” I said, “forget it – giving each other a hand job is fine.”

He laughed nervously, “Oh, fuck.” He whispered, as his hand closed around my shaft, “This feels so weird.”

“It does,” I agreed, watching his hand working my cock as I wrapped my hand around his cock too. “But it feels so damned good.”

He nodded, gasping a little as I started to move up and down his shaft, rubbing my thumb over the end of his cock and using his pre-come to lube him up a little.

We worked each other. I was getting close and I knew he was too because his breathing had changed. He was breathing heavier and his balls were tightening.

“Gonna come.” He panted, “Oh, God...” He came, spurting hot come all over my hand and up his stomach.

Without even thinking about it I put my hand to my mouth and licked it. I eyed his stomach and leaned forward but Denny shook his head, “Let me make you come, baby.”

My heart melted when he called me baby. I leaned back against the cushions and closed my eyes, revelling in his touch. Seconds later my cock jerked in his hand and I came.

“I’ll get us something to clean up with.” Denny said getting straight up. I watched him walk to the kitchen. Got he had the sexiest backside... he was lean and muscly with really beautifully sculpted legs. Gorgeous...

He came back into the lounge, “I think next time we should go to one of our rooms first.” He said with a chuckle, “Or this lounge is just gonna stink of sex.”

I grinned, “Yeah,” I said, “Good point.”

He’d already cleaned himself off and he came over to me and wiped up my stomach. “I can do that.” I said, feeling embarrassed that he was cleaning me up.

He shrugged, “I like being able to do stuff for you – you’re always looking out for me.”

I smiled at him and he smiled back at me. “Thanks.” I said.

He shrugged, looking pleased, “You’re welcome. Come on – let’s go to bed.” He held his hand out to me and I took it eagerly,

“Your room or mine?” I asked as we got to our bedroom doors.

He raised an eyebrow, “Seriously?” he asked.

I nodded, heart in my mouth, “Yeah.” I said.

He grinned, “Mine.” He said pushing his bedroom door open. “Back in a second.” He said and headed for the bathroom.

He appeared a couple of minutes later, in just his boxer shorts and sporting a boner to be proud of.

I was lying on his bed, completely naked again and playing with my hardening cock. There was no point in pretending that I didn’t still want to fool around.

Denny looked at me for a second before letting out the sexiest growl I’d ever heard in my life. The next second he’d launched himself onto me, straddling my thighs and crashing his mouth against mine, his tongue delving in and kissing me messily.

I let go of my cock as I found myself responding eagerly to his kiss, even though I’d spent the last eight years convincing myself that I wasn’t hopelessly in love with my best friend. Who knew that just one kiss would be all it would take...?

We kissed for ages. Time seemed to stand still while we kissed. I wasn’t actually aware that my hand had found its way back around my cock until he knocked my hand away and then slid his body closer to mine and started to rub his cock right against mine. Ohhh, God. That felt so good.

“Oh, my God.” I groaned, “What are you doing to me?”

Denny smiled and rubbed his nose against mine, “Well, I was kind of hoping that I was turning you on.” He murmured.

I leaned a little closer and captured his lips in my own again, “You’re definitely doing that.” I whispered between kisses, “I’ve never been so turned on in my whole life.”

Denny smiled, “I can remember one time.” He whispered back to me, “Can you remember that summer?”

Could I remember that summer? Of course I could remember that summer – like it was only yesterday. I nodded, “Yeah.” I agreed. “I remember that summer like it was yesterday.”

“I, uh, I have condoms.” He whispered, “And lube.”

I swallowed, “Okay.” And you want me to do what? Fuck you? My heart started to beat wildly in my chest as all sorts of images flew through my mind.

He smiled, going very red, “I wasn’t assuming anything... I just... hoped that we could... maybe... Not necessarily tonight...”

I stared at him. He really did want me to fuck him. Wow... He stared back at me, his eyes massive in the low lighting and looking so vulnerable. His honesty about his feelings for me were so raw and out in the open. He was the polar opposite of me when it came to talking about his feelings. I was worse than useless at this – I was totally still in the closet. Denny wasn’t obviously out either but he hadn’t seriously tried dating women in years.

“How many guys have you had sex with?” I asked.

He blushed, looking at me like a deer caught in headlights, “Why do you want to know? Why does it matter?”

I shook my head, “It doesn’t matter.” I said, “But you’re my one and only.” That summer... Best one of my life.

Sadness flashed in his eyes, “I wish I could say the same,” he muttered, “But there’ve been a few.” He shrugged, “I couldn’t wait around for you to decide if you were going to come out – but I’ve never...” He trailed off and looked up at the ceiling.

“You’ve never what?” I asked.

He took a deep breath and wouldn’t look at me, “I don’t let men fuck me, Blaine – you’re the only one who ever has.”

I stared at him, “What?” Really? Wow...

He shook his head and looked at his hands, still not looking at me, then. Interesting... “I’ve never wanted that sort of intimacy with any other guys,” his eyes flickered to mine and then back to his hands, “so I top them but I don’t let them top me.”

I frowned, “And how does that work out for you?”

He shrugged, “Well, some guys prefer bottoming, so it’s fine.”

“But for those who don’t?” I felt as if my frown was etched into my forehead.

He smiled and shrugged, “They don’t stick around. But that’s okay because I don’t have feelings for any of them anyway.” He raised his eyes finally and looked at me, really looked at me – and I couldn’t have looked away if my life depended on it. This was heavy stuff... “I love you, Blaine. I always have.”

I swallowed. Fuck. He was so damned good at this love thing. I was a total amateur. I’d been hiding my feelings for fucking years. Dating girls in a bid to deny my real self... I had to be honest – but I didn’t know how to be... “I don’t know what to say... I-I’m not sure how I feel...” Liar. You fucking love him right back. Tell him! Tell him!

Denny sighed and stroked my nipple with his fingertip. “I know,” He said, making my heart drop in my chest like a stone that I’d never been honest about my feelings for him, “I know you don’t feel the same – I know you’re straight... and that sucks for me but it is what it is. I’m happy to take whatever you’ll give me while we’re here. How about it? Will you have sex with me, Blaine?”

I looked at him. He was so much braver than me – having the balls to ask for what he wanted. I needed to pluck up the courage to tell him how I felt – I just wasn’t there yet... “You’re such a tart.” I teased, pulling him in for another one of those incredible, filthy kisses, “But yes. I’d love to have sex with you.”

He smiled against my lips before delving his tongue inside my mouth, licking and tasting me for all he was worth. I’d never been kissed like this before and it was absolutely mind-blowing. Oh, God... I was in serious trouble now.

He started to trail hot, wet, open-mouthed kisses down my neck, sucking hard when he got to the dip of my shoulder blade and making me gasp. “What the fuck are you doing to me?” I gasped, “You can’t give me a love-bite, man – someone might see it!”

He pulled away and looked at me. Hips lips were cherry-red and swollen from all of our kissing. His pupils dilated so that his usually grey eyes looked almost black. His pale skin was flushed pink all down his chest. Oh, my God. He’d never looked better. He was so fucking beautiful...

He smiled at me, his eyes half closed with lust, “Who’s gonna see?” he asked lazily, “Who’s gonna know out there?”

Good point. “Well...”

He grinned, “I’m sorry – I won’t do it again – well, not where anyone can see anyway.” He flashed me the wickedest grin, his eyes gleaming with utter mischief. Fuck, he was sexy and I’d never been able to resist him. Everything he said was making me more and more turned on. I felt as if my whole body was tingling with anticipation.

He continued to trail those kisses lower and lower. He dipped his tongue in my belly button playfully and then continued to trail kisses down even further. Fuck his mouth was gonna be up close and personal with my cock any second now...

“Can I?” he breathed as he hovered his mouth right above my cock. He was on his knees between my wide open legs and I could see his cock, leaking pre-come in a steady stream down his length as it rested against his belly, straight up and hard as rock, “Please?”

“Oh, God, yeah,” I breathed, “Yeah, you totally can.”

He dived on it like a starving man at a feast. I flopped my head back on the pillows and closed my eyes as he devoured me, licking all the way down my shaft and back up again before he took the tip of me in his mouth and stuck the tip of his tongue in my slit, making me gasp. Not one of the women I’d slept with had ever done that to me. Not one.

“Oh, that feels so good.” I groaned.

He moaned a reply as he sucked and lapped around my cock, his pupils were totally dilated as he looked up at me from under those beautiful dark lashes with his hypnotic grey eyes.

I stared back at him, my breathing coming out hard and fast and I could feel myself getting harder and harder in his hot, wet mouth. Fuck. Nothing had ever felt better. I couldn’t actually believe that it was Denny’s mouth around my cock. Denny!

I reached down to stop him. I shouldn’t be enjoying being sucked off by my best friend. It was all kinds of kinky and it felt kind of wrong even though, for some bizarre reason, it also felt very, very right. My intention was to push him off, but I ended up with my fingers threaded through his hair and holding him there while my hips started to thrust of their own volition.

I didn’t want to hurt him, but I was also horribly aware that I wasn’t being particularly gentle. Denny didn’t seem to care in the slightest. He was sucking and drooling and groaning in ecstasy and oh, wow! He had his hand around his own cock and was working himself in time with my thrusts into his mouth. Fuck. This was awesome...

“Gonna come.” I gasped, trying to pull out of his mouth. He made a noise of desperation and grabbed my hip, pulling me back into his mouth. Holy fuck – he wanted it. Everything went temporarily black as I came. When I opened my eyes again, Denny was groaning his way through his own orgasm, while still sucking my over-sensitive, semi-soft cock.

“Denny,” I whispered, “Stop.”

He opened his eyes, and looked at me. Realising that he was zoned out with my cock still very much in his mouth, he pulled off me with a messy slurp and wiped his face on the back of his hand. “Uh, we made bit of a mess,” he grinned sheepishly, “I’ll get something to clean us both up.”

“No, wait a minute.” I murmured, holding my arms out. I really didn’t want him leaving me at the moment, “Come here.”

He crawled back up the bed and I pulled him onto me so he was straddling my lap, “What was that?” I asked, looking into his face in wonder.

He smiled, “That was pretty much perfection.” He murmured.

I nodded. It so was. “Kiss me again.” I whispered.

He smiled again and leaned down to touch his lips against mine.

 

 

Chapter 13 – Kissing...

 

Denny

 

Kissing Blaine was the best thing in the world. Kissing him after I’d just taken his full load was even more of a turn-on. Could he taste himself? Did it turn him on too? What the hell was he thinking?

From the groans he was making as he devoured my mouth, to the feel of that rock hard cock pressing me between the cheeks of my arse as I sat straddling him, I’d say he was pretty much turned on...

God he felt so good pressing against me like that. Should I slide backwards a little and just let him in? Should I stop him? What should I do? “Blaine?” I whispered, “Shall I get us a condom?” He froze beneath me. Ohhh, fuck. Wrong thing to say, obviously.

“I don’t... I can’t...” he finally managed to stutter out.

I leaned away from him, pressing myself down onto his cock that was still incredibly hard despite his obvious reluctance to get inside me. “Hey,” I touched him under the chin and tilted his face up to mine, “It’s okay – we don’t have to do anything you’re uncomfortable with.”

He nodded, “Okay, thanks – I’m uh, not really ready for that.”

I nodded, “It’s fine, Blaine, really – shall we just go back to sleep – we can still get an hour or so before the sun comes up.”

He nodded, “Good idea – I’ll uh, I’ll go back to my room.”

I bit my lip. Should I suggest staying together? Fuck it – nothing ventured, nothing gained... “You don’t have to go. Stay with me all night if you like. I’m totally a sucker for your cuddles.”

He chuckled, “You’re like a life-size teddy bear.” He said affectionately, pushing me off his knee and then lying behind me, spooning me from behind. His cock was still pressed tantalisingly between my arse cheeks but I was sleepy enough to find it oddly comforting instead of particularly sexual, “Night, Blaine.”

“Night Denny.” He muttered sleepily and the next second we were both fast asleep.

 

 

Chapter 14 – Even more kissing...

 

Blaine

 

We’d slept in the same room for a few nights before we’d actually gotten really intimate and kissed and we’d pretty much kept to the side of the bed we’d gone to sleep on. So waking up and finding Denny wrapped around me the next morning was quite possibly the best experience of my entire existence so far...

I lay there for a second, just listening to his even breathing whilst enjoying the weight of his bare leg slung over mine and his arm around my waist. I hadn’t been aware that I’d rolled over in my sleep, but I was turned towards the window and he’d obviously turned over at some point and snuggled back up to me – him spooning me instead of the other way around. It was nice. It was comfortable and warm and I felt loved and safe.

“Are you awake?” he whispered.

“Yes.” I whispered back, “Why are we whispering.”

His chuckle was delightful, “Turn over – let me kiss you.”

“Dude!” I cried, “Morning breath!” Still, I turned around to face him.

He was grinning back at me, “I’ll go and brush – then you go and brush – and then I’m kissing you for a good ten minutes before we get up and get dressed. It’s Sunday – we’ve got a right to a lie-in.”

I nodded, “Good point.” I said, “And then I’m making us breakfast. I refuse to eat that muesli shit this morning. We’re having pancakes.”

Denny leaning in and planted a little kiss on my surprised mouth, before letting out a giggle and scrambling off the bed, heading for the bathroom.

I watched him go. His hips swung a little as he walked. Something I’d never really noticed before. He was completely naked and I couldn’t tear my eyes away from his perfectly pert, rounded behind. My God, he looked utterly edible... Maybe I’d have to take a bite.

He came back from the bathroom and stood in the doorway of the bedroom. Still completely naked and looking very pleased to see me. My mouth watered. Fuck, I wanted to suck him... Was that too weird?

“Blaine?” Denny frowned at me from the doorway? “What’s up?”

I tore my eyes away from his cock and up to his face, feeling my face heating up a little, “Nothing.” I rasped, “I just... you... you’re beautiful.”

He smiled coyly, “Aww, babe.” He said, crossing the distance between us quickly and sliding back under the covers.

I swallowed, “Can I suck your cock?” I whispered.

He blinked and looked at me in shock, “You don’t have to do that, Blaine. I meant what I said – I’m happy to do that for you – it gets us both off. I understand that you’re more into women and this wouldn’t be happening in a million years if we weren’t trapped here together.”

I nodded, an uncomfortable feeling settling in my gut. I wasn’t all that sure if that was actually true anymore... or if it ever had been... I couldn’t deny that I’d been secretly delighted that we’d been sent alone on this operation. I was delighted that we were going to be alone together for weeks on end. And I’d been hoping that something would happen between us, too... “I know I don’t have to, Denny.” I said quietly, “but I want to.”

I couldn’t deny that I was terrified. Having your cock sucked was one thing – doing it for another guy when you’d never done it before was quite another – and doing it for a guy who was quite obviously confident at it – well, I was shitting bricks over it if I was honest... What if I hated it? What if he hated it? What if I gagged, or even worse, totally choked with come coming down my nose? Could that even happen? Holy shit I was freaking out completely...

But Denny’s smile was breathtaking. “I would love that.” He said, “Where do you want me? Lying down – or shall I straddle your chest and feed myself to you?”

My cock immediately hardened, making me feel a little dizzy with the speed of it, “Oh, God.” I whispered, “That sounds amazing.”

He smiled, “Lie back, then.” He said, “I won’t fuck your mouth or anything – ‘cause that can be uncomfortable if you’re not used to it.”

I blushed, “I’m really sorry....” I started to apologise because that was exactly what I’d done to him last night.

He shook his head, “You were fantastic last night.” He whispered, “Absolutely fantastic.”

I smiled back up at him. No. I’d done nothing really – it was him who’d been fantastic. His cock was bobbing right in front of my face. Taking a deep, steadying breath I looked up at him, “Okay.” I said, “I’m ready.”

He edged forward and rubbed his cock across my lips. It felt so soft and silky and his scent was driving me insane. I groaned with pleasure, “more.” I murmured, “I want more of you.”

He leaned into me, sliding his cock into my waiting mouth and I closed my lips around him. Fuck that felt so damned good. It was like nothing I’d ever experienced before. We’d gone straight from wanking each other off to actually having full penetrative sex when we were teens – although Denny had licked come off my stomach a couple of times – something that I hadn’t been brave enough to do. We’d not actually sucked each other off – again, something I hadn’t been brave enough to do – but I’d kind of wished I had now.

I was certain I’d like it and I wasn’t wrong. It was fucking awesome. I’d always kind of liked going down on my girlfriends, giving them pleasure had always been a total turn on – but this was something else entirely. His heavy, delicious cock kept dipping into my mouth and out again, his balls nudging my chin. His scent was all around me, overwhelming me and I was in heaven. This was what sex was all about – sucking the cock of the man I’d loved since the day we’d met...

He groaned as I slurped and sucked him in. I was unaware that I’d wrapped my arms around his legs and was actually pulling him closer. His musky heat was all around me. It was fucking intoxicating. Oh, God, and I could taste his pre-come...

He groaned again and moaned my name, “Blaine, you need to stop, mate...”

There was no way on this earth I was about to stop. I was totally in the zone. Lost in passion. I looked up into his face. He looked back down at me with his mouth open and his pupils dilated. He was fucking loving it too. There was also a bit of concern on his face. I closed my eyes and shook my head a little to let him know I wasn’t about to stop. I wanted it all. Grabbing his arse, I sucked him in with even more determination. I wanted him to come down my throat. I squeezed his arse cheeks and pulled him in as far as I could manage without choking. At the same time I reached for my own cock. I was as hard as a fucking rock right now. I started to work myself. Oh... my... God. This was bliss and then some...

“Oh, God!” I heard Denny as his cock twitched, flooding my mouth with his hot come. I swallowed quickly as he pumped my mouth over and over. I wasn’t as good as he was at this sucking lark and most of it dribbled out of my mouth and down my chin, onto my chest. But fuck. It was the best thing I’d ever done.

He pulled his softening cock out of my mouth gently and climbed off me, “Are you okay?” he asked as I wiped my mouth on the back of my hand. I could taste his come in my mouth really strongly and I thought I’d hate it, but I really didn’t. It had turned me on more than anything else to make him fall apart in that way – just because I was sucking him. I looked down at myself and the mess we’d made between us.

I nodded. “I’m fine. How are you?” I asked.

He looked at me and smiled, “I think I’m in love.” He said.

I laughed. “Me too.” I agreed, “Me too.”

 

 

Chapter 15 – Pancakes

 

Denny

 

Had he meant it? I didn’t think he had. Not really – it was easy to say in the heat of the moment. And I was okay with that... Well, I was and I wasn’t. I’d said it because I’d meant it – but I’d also said that I was okay with whatever he was willing to give me while we were here. It wouldn’t be fair of me to now expect more from him than he was able to give, blowjob aside...

What had that meant to him, though? I knew that straight guys were happy enough to receive them, hell I’d been fooled enough times when I was younger – but I’d not met one straight guy yet that had wanted to reciprocate. The bastards just like using gay guys for getting free blowjobs between relationships with girls.

And the straight guys that wanted to experiment further were usually tops, too. I guess they thought it still made them straight as long as they were penetrating a hole. Once they started wanting to be bottomed instead, they were crossing a line and I was happy to help those guys out – someone had to show them the way – but I’d never let anyone top me since I was sixteen... since Blaine and I had gotten horny in my bedroom and I’d encouraged him to give it a try...

I didn’t want anyone else to top me. I wanted to save myself for my one true love. Fuck. I was so damned pathetic...

I headed for the shower. I needed a little alone time. I needed to sort out my jumbled thoughts and to think seriously about what the hell I thought I was doing... This was not going to end well. I was going to end up alone. I knew it. Blaine knew it – but we were in too deep now to go back. Something was going to have to give...

 

*

 

True to his word, Blaine had cooked me pancakes by the time I’d finished in the shower – and they were utterly delicious.

“Did you like them?” he asked me as I finished up my plate.

I nodded, “Fantastic.” I grinned up at him.

His big brown eyes gazed back at me, and something that was close to relief passed over his face, “Cool.” He said.

I pulled the laptop over to my side of the table, “Anything come through from HQ?”

We’d been given a dongle that were allowed to use between the hours of six am and eight am daily to retrieve emails from HQ only. They were encrypted and it took us almost two hours to get them downloaded successfully and read – and even then, there was nothing new.

Blaine shook his head, “Nothing new, no.” he said taking a bite of his pancake, “And I’ve checked the valley house and there’s no one there, either.”

I raised my eyebrows, “What are we going to do with ourselves today?”

His grin gave me an instant woody. “I have a few ideas.” He said huskily.

Well, that was most definitely promising. And so did I. “Me too.” I said boldly. I wanted him inside me and I wasn’t about to take no for an answer...

 

 

Chapter 16 – Let’s go all the way...

 

Blaine

 

Fuck me. I was never going to be the same again. I couldn’t get enough of Denny. He was so utterly sexy, so beautiful and so damned delicious. I’d been surprised when he’d come in my mouth – but not in a bad way. I’d wholeheartedly expected not to like it, but actually... I’d fucking loved it and I couldn’t wait to do it all over again – and more.

I was completely hooked and I could not wait to put that lube and condoms to good use – and by the look on his face, Denny was feeling exactly the same...

“Shall we go back to bed?” He asked.

I nodded. I think my tongue must have been hanging out of my mouth. I was more turned on than I’d ever been in my entire life. He wanted me to make love to him and I was more than willing to do it. I’d only been sixteen the last time we did this but I remember the experience as one of the most intense I’d ever felt.

I’d had plenty of girlfriends after I’d had sex with Denny but none of them ever felt quite as good as what I’d remembered. Whether that was down to his tight heat or if it was because I’d been in love with him and I’d never felt that about anyone else since was debatable – but I liked to think it was just because I loved him.

He pulled me into his room, a little smile playing on his lips. “This is going to be the best sex you ever had.” He whispered, leaning in and capturing my lips with his. Well, I’d go along with that. His kisses were the best I’d ever had... sucking his cock had been the best I’d ever had (and the only one I’d ever had but it was still the most amazing oral experience ever) and I knew what it was like to be inside him because that too had been the best experience of my life so far... Every experience with Denny was the best ever. I’d been such a dickhead listening to my Dad’s homophobic prejudices and letting them define me... I was gay. I loved Denny. There really wasn’t anything else to consider...

“So, how are going to we play this?” I asked, “Would you like me on top?”

He shrugged, stroking himself through his jeans and eyed the bulge in mine with fascination, “Whatever you want to do baby.” He murmured, “I’ll love it whatever we do.”

Well, me too...

 

 

Denny

 

I had a few ideas of what I wanted to do – and not one of them involved me topping him...

I really wanted him to take charge and to throw me around the bed... but I got the feeling he was a little overwhelmed with the whole gay scene and that he wanted me to take charge... well, I could totally do that too – but did he really want me to top him? Was that part of his plan...? Should I suggest me being on top, but for him to be in the driving seat, so to speak? I could totally top him... But. I thought, Would it be better to have him being the one penetrating me?

That would definitely work... I was sure of it...

He wouldn’t think I was trying to emasculate him by topping him – and he wouldn’t have to worry about hurting me – which I knew he’d have a problem with, because he was all over the place about it when we were teenagers. He’d totally got a protective thing going on around me...

“I think I know what we’re gonna do.” I said, capturing his lips in mine. “You liked me feeding my cock into your mouth, right?”

He nodded, “Fuck, yeah. You’re totally making me hard, baby.”

I grinned, “Good, I was kind of banking on it – because I’m gonna ride you.”

His eyes glazed over, “You’re gonna ride me?” he asked.

I nodded, “I’ve got the condoms and lube, dude – and I know how to use them.” God, did I know how to use them...?

He nodded, “Sounds fantastic.” He said faintly.

I frowned. He really didn’t seem to be on board with this. Maybe he really wanted to give topping me a go. Maybe I should check... “Unless you really want to just fuck my brains out?” Well, I had to ask.

He started to laugh, “Oh, my God.” He said, “You are amazing.” He said, “And I’d really love to – and I will tonight – but right now I’m happy for you to take total control of me.”

I grinned, “Good decision.” I whispered. “Now, let’s get these clothes off you.”

“Oh, God.” Blaine murmured as we stripped each other of our clothes, “I’ve been dying for you since I woke up this morning.”

I licked his neck playfully as I pushed his sweatshirt up over his head, “Oh, God. Me too,” I murmured, nuzzling into him and breathing in his fabulous scent.

Blaine smiled at me lazily as I pulled away from him to toss his sweatshirt onto the floor. He leaned in again and captured my lips in his. Conversation was halted for a while as we explored each other’s mouths with our tongues. We didn’t need words. All that mattered was touching and kissing each other.

Blaine pulled my jeans down my legs and dropped them on the floor, “Ohh fuck,” he groaned as he saw the bulge in my boxer shorts, “Look at that.”

I grinned up at him, “What would you like me to do with it?” I murmured. My dick was rigid and my balls were beginning to tingle with anticipation of us actually making love.

“Anything you like, baby.” He murmured, “Anything you like.”

An idea suddenly popped into my mind. Would he go for it, though? Hell, why not ask...? “Wait there.” I said and shot across to my wardrobe. Digging around in my bag I pulled them out. My handcuffs...

“I got these out to play with.” I turned to him, holding them out.

He blinked as he looked at what I was holding. “You’re not serious?” he asked faintly.

I’d just thought it would be a lot of fun... I smiled and nodded, “Actually, yeah – I am.” I said, “But if you really don’t want to…” I bit my lip, suddenly feeling really nervous about the whole handcuffs suggestion. Did he think I was a dirty perv now? “We really don’t have to – it was a stupid idea.”

“Hey, don’t be hasty,” he murmured, pulling me back down and smashing his mouth against mine, “Just as long as you know where you’ve put the keys – it would be really embarrassing trying to explain things to the chief...” he grinned as he pulled away a fraction.

I chuckled against his mouth and nodded, “That would be hard to explain.” I agreed, “Don’t worry – the keys are right here.

He grinned, “Let’s get started first – we can play your kinky games later…”

I nodded, “Okay. I thought we might start with me covering this bad boy.” I stroked my hands up and down his shaft, watching a little bead of pre-come gathering at the slit on my upward stroke.

He sighed and leaned back against the pillows. He nodded, “Sounds like a plan.” He murmured.

I ripped the foil wrapper with my teeth and rolled the condom down his cock.  “And now,” I whispered in his ear, “I want you to put your hands above your head against the frame – I won’t put the cuffs on you but I want you to imagine that you’re wearing them – so don’t move your arms, okay?”

He gazed up into my eyes and nodded. His lips slightly parted and his eyes glazed over with lust. He nodded, “Okay.” He whispered.

I positioned myself astride him. I was gonna give him the ride of his life...

I guess I’d been subconsciously formulating this plan in my mind from the moment I first saw my bed – and the metal frame and tomorrow night we were definitely experimenting with the handcuffs – but tonight it was just going to be a trial run.

I gazed down at Blaine in wonder. He was my eternal protector – the one who always took charge of everything and I’d got him in the submissive position. I wasn’t at all sure if I could really pull this off.

I was sure he could feel that my legs were shaking... Pull yourself together Ellis. I gave myself a stern internal talking to. Just fucking enjoy it!

 “What are you gonna do next?” Blaine murmured, eyeing my cock, which was bouncing around in front of his face.

I leaned forward, “I’m gonna kiss you.” I whispered, “Right here.” I planted a little kiss on the end of his nose and then trailed kisses all down his face, down his chest, paying attention to his nipples until they were standing on end and then I continued down to his balls. I sucked one and then the other into my mouth, making him squirm and moan. “Fuck, Denny.” He gasped, “I need to be inside you.”

I grinned down at him. “I take it you’re liking that?” I whispered.

“Fuuuuck.” He breathed, “Yeah, I am.” His grin was utterly beautiful, “Let me fuck you...”

“Nuh-uh,” I smiled, “I’m not done yet… but I promise you – it’s gonna feel like I’m fucking you.”

“You’re fucking incredible.” He whispered.

I nodded. Time for a little lube and then... I poured a little of the lube over my fingers and slicked up his cock and then I reached behind me and prepped myself. Finally I manoeuvred myself back and holding his slick cock in place, I lowered myself onto him.

He gasped as I inched my way down his thick cock, stopping to allow the stretch before sliding down a little more. Finally I was all the way down him. I couldn’t quite believe it. Blaine was right inside me – I’d been dreaming of this moment since I was sixteen – the last time we’d been this close...

“Fuuuuuck, Denny.” He groaned, “You’re so tight.”

I nodded, “I’ll move in a second.” I whispered, “I’m just...”

He nodded, “I want to hold you.” He whispered back to me, “I just need to hold you, baby.”

I smiled and nodded. “Okay, you can you’re your arms now.” He smiled up at me. “Better?” I asked as I leaned down and kissed him.

He wrapped his arms around my back and licked into my mouth. I groaned against his mouth, “I need to move.” I gasped. The pressure of him inside me was beginning to get unbearable.

He nodded, “Oh, God, yeah – fuck me baby.”

I started to move on him, sliding all the way up and then slamming myself back down onto him again.

I watched his face as I worked him. He had his eyes half closed and gasped every time I went down on him. Ohh, yeah, he was loving it – every fucking second of it – and so was I.

His cock kept grazing my prostate and it was really hard to keep going when I was so close to coming. I felt like I was about to shatter into pieces all over him.

“Oh, God.” He shouted, “I’m gonna come, Denny – I’m gonna fucking come!”

“Come for me baby.” I gasped, trying my best to hold off, “Come inside me.” I couldn’t hold off any longer. My cock erupted and spurted streams of hot come all up his chest and onto his chin.

Whether he meant for me to see or not, I watched in fascination as he darted his tongue out and tasted it. That was the second time he’d done that. And he’d sucked me off – he must really like the taste of me... He was still gripping my hips and pulling me down onto him, “Ohhh, God.” He breathed, as I milked his cock through his orgasm, “So good, you’re so fucking good.”

Finally, I had nothing left. My legs were like jelly and I was feeling pretty tender. I eased myself off him and he rolled away from me to go and take care of the condom.

He came back, “I’m lightheaded.” He said with a grin, “Move over, we need to cuddle.”

I laughed, “Come here.” I said holding my arms out.

“Nuh-uh.” He said, shaking is head and grinning at me adorably, “You might be a God at the whole sex thing – but you’re still the little spoon.”

I chuckled and rolled over.

He pulled me in close to him, his cock pressing against me quite distractingly. Wow, that feels good, I could totally go another round in a second... Seconds later I was fast asleep in his arms.

I woke up probably around an hour later to feel the wet heat of his mouth sucking my cock. Jesus. He was totally into this gay sex thing...

I lay there for a while just revelling in the amazing feeling of his tongue swirling around the head of my cock and along the underside of my shaft. Fuck, that felt good but I’d be shooting my load straight down his throat in a minute... “Fuck, Blaine,” I finally whispered, “you’re gonna make me come if you don’t slow it down a little.”

He looked up at me, “Sounds like a plan.” He murmured before he dipped the tip of his tongue into my sensitive slit and then sucking me deeper into his mouth. He was lying between my legs, I had my knees bent with my feet flat on the mattress and he reached his hand down, his fingers lightly caressing my hole. God, that felt good.

I couldn’t come in his mouth right away. I shifted myself away slightly, sliding out of his mouth and leaving a trail of saliva mixed with pre-come down his chin. He licked his lips and looked up at me in confusion, “Don’t you want to come in my mouth?”

I nodded, “I do.” I said, “But I’d like to be sucking you at the same time – it’s really good, Blaine – I promise.

He nodded, his eyes glazing over with lust again. Fuck he looked incredible when he was this turned on. His lips all red and swollen with passion and his cheeks and chest flushed.

“Sounds amazing.” He murmured, “But my head’s gone completely on you – you’ll have to tell me where you want me.”

I chuckled, “Leave it to me, Blainey baby.” I murmured, “Lie on your side.”

He did as I told him and I manoeuvred into position and took his hard cock into my mouth as his lips enveloped mine again. Oh, my God. That was so good.

To have his hard and yet so damned silky cock sliding in my mouth at the same time as I could feel myself being sucked into his hot, wet mouth was absolutely incredible. I could have stayed there all damned day, just zoning out on each other. I pulled off him reluctantly. We were actually supposed to be working...

I looked at his cock and groaned as I stroked my finger down his length, making him quiver, “I would love a photo of you looking like you do right now,” I whispered, “You look absolutely fucking gorgeous.”

He pulled his mouth off my cock and looked up at me, smiling lovingly at me, “No need for that – I’m not going anywhere.”

I smiled back, “What do you want to do with your cock next?” I whispered.

He shuffled away from me and reached for my cock. Starting to work me, he murmured, “I think I’d like to see myself disappearing inside of you – if that’s okay?”

I nodded and grinned up at him, “That sounds amazing.” I said.

“Are you sure it’s not too soon?” he asked, still stroking my cock as his teeth worried his lip.

I shook my head and reached for the lube and condoms. “Definitely not.”

I lay back on the bed and watched as he slid a condom over his cock and then squeezed a little lube out onto his hands. He lubed up his cock and then spent more time that he really needed to prepping me. Not that I was complaining, it was very nice feeling his fingers sliding inside me.

Finally he lined himself up and pressed against my hole. He groaned, pure pleasure on his face as he breached the tight muscles at my entrance and finally sank inside me.

“That’s it,” I said soothingly, “Relax, baby, you’re doing great.”

I braced myself for the next push. He would be bracing himself for it, too – the tightness and the heat was unbelievable but being entered was every bit as incredible. The burn of the stretch and the deep ache – but it was so fucking worth it.

I couldn’t help a little gasp of pain escaping but it was quickly swallowed by his mouth covering mine. I sucked on his tongue as he thrust it in my mouth in perfect synchronisation with his cock thrusting inside me. He licked inside my mouth, biting on my bottom lip as he thrust into me again and again. Eventually he pulled away from our kiss to look at me, “Are you okay?”

I nodded, “I’m fine.” I whispered, “Give it to me hard.”

He grinned and started to drive himself into me, long, slow strokes that grazed my prostate on every stroke, and sending me absolutely crazy with desire. “Oh, yeah,” he groaned, “you like that?” he growled, his voice deep with his raw passion.

“I love it.” I panted, “I want you so bad – fuck me hard, Blaine!” I shouted.

“Oh, God,” He groaned as he pulled away enough to watch himself disappearing inside me, “You look so fucking good taking my length.”

I nodded, “I want you to fuck me till your coming.” I panted, “And I want you to make me come too – touch me, Blaine! Work my cock.”

He yelled my name as he came. Obviously he was too close to coming. He slid out of me and still with the condom on, he closed his lips around my cock and sucked. It only took a few seconds before I knew I was going to come, “Oh, God! I’m coming.” I gasped as I felt my cock erupt against the roof of his mouth.

I thought he’d choke and splutter and be put off for life but that didn’t happen.” He pulled me right into his throat and took everything.

After what felt like forever, he pulled off me, wiping his mouth on the back of his hand and gazing at me with a look of utter wonder on his face, “That was fucking awesome.” He said faintly, “I need to get rid of this.” He looked down at his softening cock. The condom wasn’t gonna hold on for much longer.

“I think we should get back to work.” I murmured after a while. My arse was still really tender but at least it wasn’t throbbing anymore. I’d sure be able to feel him for a while though.

Blaine nodded, “Yeah,” he agreed, “I’ll go and take the first watch.”

I nodded, “I’ll get a quick shower.” I said.

He headed for the door, “You’re fucking me tonight.” He said as he left the room.

My jaw dropped. Had he really just said that...? Uh, yes. Yes, he really had...

 

 

Chapter 17 – Doubts and memories

 

Blaine

 

In the heat of the moment – and even in the aftermath of having sex and cuddling Denny for hours, falling asleep with him and waking up the next morning with our bodies entwined, felt great – perfect even. I had no idea sex could be like this. Obviously it was amazing topping Denny – it always had been – but having him top me had been absolutely incredible.

It was once I’d got in the shower and allowed the events of the night before to bombard me that it got weird and I started to panic, wondering what the hell I thought I was doing, having sex with me best friend when I wasn’t even gay... Allowing him to penetrate me... That was definitely gay...

“It’s just because we’re here. Away from everyone else.” I muttered to myself in the bathroom mirror and trying not to visualize my best friend’s lips around my cock the night before while his fingers lubed up my hole ready for his cock... Fuck that had been hot. Hotter than any girls I’d ever had a blowjob from. I guess the fact that he was a guy and knew just what he liked himself made it easier for him to do a decent job – and he wasn’t grossed out about me coming in his mouth either – something only one girlfriend had ever agreed to try and even then, she’d only done it begrudgingly...

It was just that we were becoming reliant on each other – like guys did in prison. I wasn’t gay... I couldn’t be. I’d never fancied a guy before in my life... Actually that so wasn’t true and I was just having a total freak out. Of course I’d fancied a guy before... Denny.

I swallowed hard as memories from our youth fought their way back to the forefront of my mind. I’d buried them as deeply as I could after we’d agreed that we were straight, shame and fear of the consequences of our actions taking over as the main focus of the whole thing but of course they hadn’t disappeared altogether and right now they’d rocketed back into my conscious thought – no doubt prompted by our recent behaviour...

We were sixteen and it was the summer holidays between leaving school and starting 6th form...

Both of our parents were out at work all day and we’d been left alone, trusted not to trash the house – which of course we’d never do. But I guess no one thought we’d start to find one another sexually attractive and would start experimenting with each other.

It had started out as just having a wank – competitive wanking I think we called it. Seeing which one of us could come first... Then we’d stepped it up a gear – I think it was Denny’s idea to come on each other.

When he’d said he’d like to lick mine off me and wanted me to come all over myself it was difficult not to come right there and then. The way he described what he wanted was so damned hot and I was so turned on by it, it didn’t even occur to me to think that it might be considered wrong.

It was only when Dad came home early from work on the Friday – which he always did and I can’t believe to this day that I didn’t realise it was already Friday – to find us both completely naked, and Denny licking the last of my come off my stomach that it occurred to me that it was very, very wrong and that I really wasn’t anything like a celebrity...

Dad walked in. He then calmly asked us to stop whatever it was that we were doing and to get some clothes on. Once Denny had finally gone home and I was certain I was going to get bollocked and grounded until I was about thirty-five, Dad knocked on my door.

He asked me once if Denny meant more to me than a friend.

I shook my head, terrified to admit that I really loved him and so afraid that I was some sort of weird pervert I promised that we were just friends. I was utterly terrified of admitting the truth – that he meant everything to me and that I wanted him to be my girlfriend – even if he was a boy.

After that, Dad never mentioned it again, but he’d made it clear that what we’d been doing wasn’t acceptable behaviour. I’d assumed that he meant being gay and had concentrated on girls since then.

Denny and I had never talked about it. Denny had been mortified when Dad walked in on us and had apologised over and over, hyperventilating until he nearly passed out and I had to do breathing exercises with him. “Count to seven on the way in, Denny,” I commanded, with my hands on his shoulders, “through your nose, that’s right... And then five on the way out. That’s really good mate, you’re doing great.”

He smiled up at me, his beautiful grey eyes so trusting. “Thanks, mate.” He muttered, “God. I thought he was gonna kill us – my dad would have definitely killed me.”

It was frightening to think that his dad would have been so mad that he might have got violent – but worse than that was being called ‘mate’ again after he’d called me baby... ‘Mate’ had never sounded quite so inadequate. I’d kind of gotten used to it again a couple of months later, when it became more than obvious that we were never going to experiment with each other again...

I guess we were both too embarrassed to bring it back up and we’d just continued on as we were before – just friends. The very best of friends of course – and possibly with a few lingering looks of longing every now and then – on my part at least – but just friends nevertheless...

Fuck it all to hell. We’d never only been friends. We’d been celibate lovers for years... and I for one was sick of it. I wanted us to be together properly. It was time to accept that I was in love with Denny – and hopefully, he was in love with me. I just had to summon the guts to tell him so...

 

 

Chapter 18 – The face in the window...

 

Denny

 

“Blaine!” I yelled, “I’ve got something.”

Blaine came running back in from the kitchen to listen to the conversation that was going on in the apartment, leaving his post where he’d been watching it.

“Fuck me!” Daryl’s voice came loud and clear through to our equipment, “Someone’s fucking spying on us up there.”

We looked at each other in horror, “Fuck!” Blaine hissed, “They’re onto us.”

“Go and find out who it is.” Lenny barked.

Daryl started to grumble but it was obvious that he was going to making his way up to take a look sooner or later. “Time for a sharp exit.” I murmured.

Blaine nodded, “Yeah, let’s get the fuck out of here.”

We went for a walk further up into the woods, taking the binoculars with us so we could watch the cabin and waited it out.

After a while we saw Daryl poking around. We’d done our best to hide the equipment from view and had stuffed everything away in cupboards so the cabin didn’t look occupied and hoped he’d assume he was mistaken.

Blaine had the binoculars trained on him all the way back down the valley, “He’s gone.” He said.

I sighed, “Are we safe, do you think?”

He shrugged, “I think we should tell Chief what’s gone down and let him decide what should happen, don’t you?”

I nodded, “Yeah, that sounds about the best plan.”

We made our way back to the cabin and got an email sent off to the chief. He replied almost immediately, “Sit tight, keep listening, at the first hint of them coming back, call me and we’ll get back up to you.”

Blaine looked at me, “Well, that’s clear enough, isn’t it?”

I nodded, “Definitely.”

Lenny was full of questions when Daryl got back home. We’d hoped that Daryl would have thought he was mistaken but he clearly wasn’t as stupid as he sounded. “It was empty but I’m gonna keep an eye on it.”

Lenny made some sort of noise that we assumed was reluctant agreement and they started talking about a shipment.

I drifted back into the kitchen to make us some lunch. I glanced to the window. Blaine was always forgetting to draw the damned curtains. I nearly had a heart attack when I saw the outline of someone’s head, “Fuck!” I yelled, “Blaine!”

Blaine was immediately behind me, gun at the ready, “What?” he said urgently, “Where?”

“There’s someone outside the window,” I hissed, “Get down! Now!” I had visions of Blaine being blown away any second.

He hit the deck instantly, “get down yourself.” He hissed back at me, “I don’t want you getting hurt.”

My heart swelled with a rush of love for him. I didn’t know what the hell was going on between us apart from a lot of hot sex but that statement told me that he cared about me enough to want me not to get hurt. I didn’t want him getting hurt either.

We stayed there, staring at each other, chests heaving. “What the fuck do we do now?” I hissed.

Blaine crawled across the floor to me and wrapped his arms around me, “I’m going out there to see who the fuck it is spying on us.”

I stared at him in horror, “Not without me, you’re not.”

He looked at me in exasperation. I gazed back at him steadily, “Look – we’re partners in this – I have to watch your back just as much as you have to watch mine.”

He sighed, “But I’ve always watched your back.” he muttered, “It’s what I do.”

I smiled at him and nodded, “Well, I guess it’s time that I returned the favour, then.”

He nodded, “Fine, follow me.”

We crept through the cabin back to the lounge. It was the best place to view the valley but if someone was outside watching us, that wasn’t really much use – and we had no idea how many people were out there either – whether it was some random weirdo, or if it was just Daryl back to sniff around again. Although I was hoping against hope that it was the random weirdo, every last nerve in my body knew it was the latter. We’d been discovered – and now they wanted us as dead as they wanted Peyton dead...

Suddenly I had an idea. They had no concrete proof that we were anything other than a couple of guys with a penchant for using binoculars... We could totally be ornithologists...

“Blaine.” I whispered.

He grunted a reply from his position.

“If they ask, we’re birdwatchers.”

He looked at me as if I’d completely lost my mind, “Uh?”

I grinned, “Birdwatchers – you know, redstarts, blackbirds, thrushes.”

He nodded, rolling his eyes as if I’d completely lost my mind, “Okay. Fine. Whatever.”

 

 

Chapter 19 – All hell breaking loose...

 

Blaine

 

Just as predicted, less than a minute later there was a knock on the door.

“I’ll get it.” Denny said, “I look more the part.”

I looked at him in confusion. What are you talking about?” I hissed, “You look like you always do.”

He nodded, “Yeah, a glasses-wearing, boring old fart with weirdly blonde hair.”

He’d never looked sexier as far as I was concerned. Boring old fart? What the fuck planet was he on? He looked even sexier with his glasses on than off... “Fuck off. You look fucking beautiful.” I said gruffly.

Smiling at me, Denny opened the door, “Can I help you?” his voice held a hint of apprehension. He was playing the part of the camp ornithologist to a T.

I’d have rather done the talking since I had some sort of weird protective thing going on where Denny was concerned but he knew more about birds than I did – I had no idea he was a closet twitcher... however, he was doing a sterling job of it.

Daryl scowled at him, “Don’t come the innocent with me,” he growled, “you’ve been fucking spying on us and don’t even try to fucking deny it.”

Denny had put his glasses on this morning, by accident or by purpose I wasn’t sure, but he blinked owlishly, looking every inch the weirdo ornithologist he was pretending to be – not that I thought ornithologists were weird but like everyone, there were always weirdos – and he was playing the part to perfection. “I think you may have the wrong end of the stick,” he said, lisping slightly and making me want to laugh, “– we’re from the RSPB. He fished in his wallet and actually brought out an RSPB membership card, “We’re here to spot the dusky thrush – it’s been spotted nearby in Beeley – it’s Asian and it’s only the twelfth time it’s been spotted here in Britain.” He actually sounded excited. I wondered if this was all part of his acting or if the dusky thrush really was in Britain and he really was excited about it...

The scowl on Daryl’s face was a little unnerving as he looked Denny up and down, “Fuck me,” he sneered, “You’re a couple of fags – and don’t try to deny it – I saw the way you were curled around each other through the window.”

Denny straightened his shoulders, “Our sexual orientation is none of your goddamn business,” he snapped, “and you shouldn’t have been spying on us anyway.” He added indignantly. I wasn’t sure how much of his outburst was actually personal, and how much of it was him still playing the part of the bird spotter.

The guy narrowed his eyes, “Well, spot your fucking dusty robin then – and then fuck off – you’ve got no business being around here.”

Denny blinked again, “No right?” he spluttered, “No right? I’ll have you know we’ve hired this cabin through a very professional agency...”

The guy had lost interest in Denny’s ranting and was walking away.

I walked up behind him and looped my arms around his waist, resting my chin on his shoulder, “Do you think he bought it?” I murmured in his ear.

Denny shook his head, “Doubt it.” He said, “I think he was bluffing every bit as much as we were but he wasn’t bluffing about calling us fags – he was definitely a homophobic arsehole.”

“Yeah, I heard him. The wanker. And I just stood there and didn’t do anything,” I muttered, tightening my arms around his waist and giving him a hug, “But I was hovering around just waiting for him to make a move so I could fucking kill him.”

Denny nodded, “And I think he noticed that.” He sighed, “I reckon they must be onto us – we should probably contact HQ again and tell them it’s over – we’ve been rumbled.”

I nodded, “I’ll do that.” I reluctantly let go of him and made my way back through to the lounge, my heart heavy that we’d be moved onto another job and not be able to sleep together anymore.

Denny disappeared off into the bedroom and I heard him opening the wardrobe. He was packing.

I sent the email and followed him in, “Good idea.” I muttered as I started slinging clothes into my holdall, “So you’re a bit of a twitcher on the quiet, huh?” I smiled.

Denny looked up at me, his large eyes stopping me in my tracks. God, he was so damned beautiful. He nodded bashfully and huffed a laugh, “Yeah, kind of...”

We spent the rest of the day on tenterhooks just wondering when Daryl and Lenny were going to come back. We knew they were onto us now because we’d heard their conversations all day.

We also knew that they’d been in cahoots with Lionel Hessey who we’d successfully convicted of human trafficking and prostitution a few months before. We’d not been aware that he and Lenny had been acquaintances before now and were horrified to learn that the shipment they were talking about was actually a load of new young men – and that they were planning on selling their own cousin – Hendrix – along with the fifteen or so young guys that were being delivered.

“Oh, my God. We have to get him out of there – he’s only a kid.” I looked at Denny in horror.

He nodded, “And we will – I’ll inform the chief of this new development.”

He rattled off another email.

I looked around the cabin. It had become our lovely little home these last few weeks. I didn’t want it to end. What was going to happen now that we were going home?